Massimo's First Days Home

So the girls all came down with hacking coughs and runny noses...

so did Massimo.

Thus is life, but he has proved himself to be a jolly fellow thus far

good sleeper, not a colicy screamer,

heart-throb of the big sis'.

This guy has it made, 

and certainly is making life sweeter for all of us.

I love his sweet scent

gentle coos and gurgles.

The girls love to kiss and cuddle and love on him in whatever way possible

(hence the sharing of germs).

I am in love.

How could I not be?

Mojo has us all whipped.

Massimo Meets His Family

Mopsie and the girls were waiting to greet Massimo when we got home on Tuesday with the little man.  They were delighted to see him!

Massimo is Born

The long wait is finally over, our son is born! Massimo Joseph was born July 15th at 11:31am. He shares this most auspicious day with his Great-Grandma, Moosie! My beloved settled on this name after the realization that he could be called "Mojo." Massi weighed in at 9 lbs, 7 oz and about 21 inches long. (The length is apparently debatable, though, since the pediatrician measured him at 22.5 inches two days later.)

 Knowing induction was in my near future, Byron and I took advantage of our last few hours by dropping off the girls with Mopsie and Popsie, went on a Sushi date, jogged around the neighborhood (not quite, but my heaving and contracting sides made me feel like this was the case), cleaned the house, and settled remaining loose ends before picking the girls back up to get them ready for bed. Mopsie came over to stay the night and we were off on our pre-induction date! Byron had the grand idea to stroll about the Americana for dinner and a movie before heading over to our "appointment" at midnight. We enjoyed an excellent dinner and dessert at Cheesecake Factory (he ate the dinner, I ate the dessert) and thoroughly scared our waiter when Byron announced to him, "If I flag you down for the check, that means I'll need it fast, because my wife is in labor." The waiter stammered his understanding, and rushed off to put in our order.

At this time my contractions were quite regular and coming every ten minutes, so we were very hopeful that our active day was benefiting our goal of getting Massimo out. Next up on our agenda was a movie, but I was getting quite nervous about going in to see one and leaving the theater with a baby in my arms, so we decided to skip the movie, and stroll about to window shop and people-watch instead. As the contractions began to hurt more and more, we opted to leave the mall and go to the hospital waiting room to play computer cards and bide our time in a safer location.

At midnight I checked in, was hooked up to monitors, and after a rather lengthy process involving four nurses and one anesthesiologist, I was on an IV with my arms full of bruises.  Much to my chagrin,  contractions had tapered off a bit at this time, but my doctor opted to hold off on augmenting/inducing till later in the morning.  At 5am I was put on a low dose of piton which was gradually upped over the next several hours.  Shortly after 8am I requested an epidural as I was in a great deal of pain and dilated a 6 or 7.  Progress!

Around 11am my doctor broke my water, expecting me to deliver in another two hours or so.  Shortly after I felt a unbearable urge to push -- despite the epidural-- and Byron rushed to get a nurse.  Everything after this point is a haze as I barely could acknowledge who was in the room.  Delivery process was swift, and I needed no encouragement or the doctor's aid to push him out-- so different from my other deliveries! With only three minutes of pushing he arrived!

Final Prego Pics

Here are some of the final shots of my massive belly before Massimo arrives!

 

   

Happenings

I am full term today and eagerly awaiting the arrival of our rather elusive little Massimo.  Every night I pray that I would go into labor; I am getting very impatient to evict this little guy, even though I am feeling SO much better than earlier in the pregnancy!  He is definitely getting cramped in there and I am not gaining any weight at this point and his movements are becoming greatly restricted.  I have tried various means to make my body go into labor including walks, cleaning, swimming, and even castor oil, but so far no luck! We have an induction scheduled for Sunday night (tomorrow) if he does not come sooner.  I hope he does!  All these contractions just need to get more effective and get to work!

Ellie was quite a little character this morning.  She has taken on one of Camelia's bad habit's of moaning after she is told "No" about something.  After breakfast she decided it was time for crackers, so she went into the kitchen and brought out a package of Graham Crackers.  She came to me with a cheesy grin and announced "Crakas Mommy!"  I told her no, she moaned "Ahhh" and returned to the kitchen with her loot.  This scenario was repeated three times and then she tried the same strategy on her sisters.  They also denied her request and she moaned her dismay accordingly.  Later, after finally returning the crackers to the pantry, she nestled in next to me on the couch and grabbing my arm whispered, "I wub you, Mommy, I nuggle you!" Such sweet moments!  Yesterday she came to me very obstinately and announced, "I nuggle my wata boddle, not Mommy!" as she reclined back onto a pillow with water bottle clutched lovingly in her grasp.

Today we had a scavenger hunt in the backyard to pass our summer hours.  We printed an activity sheet for each of the girls. The younger two lost interest rather quickly, but Gilana was very diligent to complete her entire worksheet and win the prize.  Camelia was very disappointed to find that Gigi won the prize Gummi Worm.  Gilana has been practicing kindness towards her sisters, and exclaimed: "I am going to give most of my candy to my sisters because I love them so much.  I am being kind to them and now they all want to give me hugs.  Isn't that nice?  When we eat lunch I will sit between the girls because they love me so much for sharing my candy and Mommy will have to eat alone.  Mommy did not share candy with the girls so she doesn't get to sit with anyone.  [To the sisters] How's about if I be in the middle of the two both of you?  I was born first.  Camelia was born in the middle and Ellie was born last.  I wish Baby Boy would come out!  Now, no girl's eating my bagel or my cherries, I need to eat my food. You be good girls and eat your broccoli. It's ok if Camelia wins and eats all her food first.  This is 'cause I am being very nice!"

Waiting on Baby

So our visit to the hospital was rather in vain, other than the assurance that I had been in pre-labor and am now dialated 3-4cm.  I was admitted in the early evening with happy hopes of meeting our son in the next several hours.  Around 11am yesterday I was discharged as all contractions had near stopped.  From contractions every 2-3 minutes to mild hints of them every 12 or so, we had little hope of meeting the little man without a serious dose of pitosin.  As my doctor was opposed to such a course of action (and honestly, so was I), home we went.  Apparently news of false labor and our hospital visit in general had gone viral by that point, so I had some discontent family members to sooth over.  Oops!  :)

My wish was to surprise them all at the baby shower with a !!BabY!! and some delighted exclamations.  Oh well, my plans are many, but certainly there is a better way.  Thirty-seven weeks is not the ideal, 40 is.  I just have to keep reminding myself that at least now I don't have to be so concerned at the frequency of my contractions from this point on.

Contractions

I have been having contractions for months now, but something changed yesterday in the intensity and "feel" of them.  A deeper, lower pain, practically across my upper legs that came with a burning, near-tearing sensation.  Not terribly painful, mind you, but certainly not something I could bat my eyes at nonchalantly.  That started around 10 am, and last night those became more markedly intense.  In fact, I couldn't sleep till around 4:30 in the morning.  Since they seemed so irregular I didn't bother going into the hospital.  I have a history of going in too soon and returning with false alarm status stamped on my burgeoning belly.  All day I have continued to feel under some duress and tonight the level of intensity continues to increase.  At 37 weeks today, I am considered "Full Term," so perhaps it is time to meet this little man?  Or perhaps these are still early labor contractions that simply herald the fact that at some point in the not so distant future a baby will be birthed. Hmm.

Dreaming

You may be able to relate to this... and perhaps even get a good chuckle at the thought of it....

Byron and I would like to buy a castle in upstate New York.  Why not?  It is surprisingly "reasonable" in price and would make for such a different pace of life.  Our family is expanding, and a castle seems only practical fit for our growing brood.  With 4 levels, many rooms including a library, study, ladies dressing room, servants quarters, and gorgeous scenery, we could even bring an assortment of our friends along! :)  Oddly enough, I think I actually stayed a weekend in a neighboring town while in college... and best of all, it looks to have fairly easy access to Prince Edward Island (The green Gables beckon me for a quaint summer holiday!)!  I could pinch myself!

Silly dreams, but it makes for enjoyable musings!

Find the listing here, some further info here, and the official site here.

From the site: Magnificent stone mansion on 3 acres in exclusive estate area. Rich in architectural details. 3 floors with 20 rooms including 8 bedrooms, 7 full baths, 7 fireplaces, master suite, library, green house, gourmet kitchen. Recently renovated and upgraded with luxurious amenities.

Some images:

Love

Camelia to Daddy, after passionately hugging Gigi goodnight:  "We love our-chothers, that's why God made us!"

Time for bed, "But I berry berry don't want to!"

The images below are from when I caught her drawing on herself.  She felt "tewwible!"

No Soliciting

I have long wanted to post a "No Soliciting" sign by our front door to ward off the sleazy salesmen who often frequent our neighborhood around this time of year.  Yesterday refreshed that desire as I awoke from my precious nap to a rap on the door, a bothersome ringing of the doorbell, and calls for attention from those inside our quiet abode.  I rushed to the door in a frazzled state, looking every part of the beleaguered barefoot and pregnant housewife, to the slippery sweet words of a man at the door, "Are you the queen of the castle?"  Refraining from slamming the door, I bluntly told him "I live here." and he went on to his pitch of my needing the carpets cleaned and why should I have to speak with my husband, is he the one who scrubs the halls?  Good.  Riddance.  You insult my husband and his right desire to care for our home and family, you insult me.

Thus I am here this morning drafting up our sign.  Note, I would like it to be pretty, not merely a thing of especial candor blanketing our home as a place of hermitage.

Herein lies my first draft:

What are your thoughts?

No Soliciting

NOTE: Any persons who choose to ignore this sign forfeit rights of leaving our porch unscathed.  We reserve the right to pelt you from the windows with water balloons, let loose our ferocious hound, and the most fearful of all, release our cannibalistic toe-sucking infantiles to assault your person.  Capiche?

What are your thoughts?

When Byron Comes Home

The following are two relatively frequent scenarios of current life at our house and Byron's response to them.

~~*~~

Byron, coming home at the end of a day when it has been just me and the kids-- possibly sick, whiny ones rather rather tired of Mommy "resting her belly" and needing a tad more physical stimulation than I currently have the ability to offer:

"The house smells like diapers."

~~*~~

Byron, coming home on a day when Kelsey has been skipping about the house like a sainted fairy-godmother followed about by sing-songy little pixies ready to flitter in joyful abandon to her every whim:

"Wow, its all so......perfect!"

Kelsey has been out sick this week (and so have we), so the drastic comparison between these scenarios has been rather stark. Missing her! :)

Dinner Prayers

Gigi: We forgot to pray!

Daddy: (Prays, thanking God for the day, our meal, and our many blessings)

Family: Amen

Eliana: MEN!

Gigi: Can I pray, too?

[Gets the affirmative nod and begins]

[Reverently] Dear God thank you so much for our food, and our house, and all the pretty things, and the flowers, and the plants, and our family.... and that blue thing over there--I don't know what it is but I like it, and our family and food and the new baby, in Jesus name Amen.

Camelia: Can I pray?

Daddy: [Mid-bite] Of course.

Camelia:

[Solemnly] Dear Lord, thank you for Jesus and the Israelites.  Amen.

Family: [Mid-laughter] Amen!

Daddy: Ellie would you like to pray? Who do we pray to?

Eliana: Gawd!

Mommy: Go ahead...

Ellie: Mommy.... Daddy.... Gigi... Mousf (Camelia).  MEN!

Family: AMEN.

Camelia Rebukes Me

Camelia was teasing Eliana outside today and ended up drenching her with water and left poor Ellie red-faced and sobbing in dismay.  I told Camelia she lost her priviledge to play with the water table and sent her to her room.  Of course this resulted in Camelia now red-faced and sobbing even more hysterically than Ellie.  After getting Ellie's wet things off and releasing her to roam about in a "French fashion" for a bit I went to Camelia's room to talk with her about her actions.  I was confronted by a very distraught little three-year old who let me know exactly how she felt about the whole situation.  

"Mommy, wemember when I was sad the other day and just needed you to stop hawassing me for a little while because you just made me cry." 

Apparently the girl just wanted space, but then decided that she would be just as happy to "do bellies" with me as we watched Ellie run about stark naked. Camelia seems to especially enjoy this now as little brother is becoming extremely wiggly in there and Camelia enjoys getting kicked in her belly, exclaiming that "baby is getting to know his big sister."

Eventually Eliana decided she wanted clothing and let Gigi know she needed some assistance as she shouted out "Help.  Me." 

Every day is an adventure.

They Say...

Daddy asks Gilana questions after her nightly reading from her story Bible.
"Gigi, why does Nebuchadnezzar not listen to God?"
"Because he is a tree stump."

Camelia upon waking up:
"My legs are wuzu wuzu!"
"What?"
"They are so wuzu!!"

Camelia wanted to dress Gigi for bed, but Daddy said Gigi could put on her own Pull-Up.
Camelia retorted, "You're not being kind to my Baby."

Kelsey speaking to Camelia after lunch:
"How was your lunch?"
"My Yogret was naughty."
"How was it naughty?"
"It grew legs and ran away!"

Eliana upon hearing anything amiss in the house: "Naughty!"

Eliana looking out the window in the morning: "Sushi.  Buddy!"

Sushi nonchalantly walking past Ellie on her way to lie down: "NO Sushi!  Naughty Sushi!" All whilst flailing her arms wildly to repel any untoward attempts at licking her little self.