He was right...

So on Saturday Dan and I were out and about and happened to see, on sale, one of those battery charger things that don't actually require another car to jump start your car. Dan said we should get one and that he would feel better knowing I had it in the van. Admittedly they are kind of cool but with my birthday/anniversary/Christmas just around the corner I didn't want to 'waste' valuable gift funds on something boring like an emergency way to start my car. Geez. I thought nothing more of it.

Today I ventured out on my own with Elizabeth and Aaron. We had a few things to get from Wal-Mart. Elizabeth must hate that store because she screamed most of the time in the store. I decided to change her diaper and feed her in the car before we left so she could fall asleep on the way home. I guess shutting the door all the way would have been a good option...I didn't notice it was slightly ajar and that there was a light on in the car. After 20 minutes of nursing my baby the battery was not strong enough to start the van. All of the parking spots surrounding my car were full so I had to wait for someone to come out of the store in order to ask for a jump. The first person ignored me...rude...but at least they opened up a spot for a potential jump car. I found a good samaritan and he pulled his car into the spot. I went to the back to get my cables. Somehow one of the alligator clips on the cables was gone. Not loose, gone. I couldn't even find it in the car. How did I lose part of my jumper cables? I never use them and they are in a bag. Weird. So my new found friend who is willing to help me does not have cables, I do not have cables, hmmmmm. We found another person with cables also willing to help. We hook it up and voila! Nothing. Argh! There was some corrosion on my battery and the connection was bad. Luckily I had just purchased some vinegar and gauze pads...I had not intended to use them toghether but a little vinegar on a gauze pad is a nice easy way to clean the corrosion off your battery. I got the car jumped and finally got home.

I'm trying to stay positive about the experience so instead of listing all the bad things that happened (like how Elizabeth had a blow out while we were waiting for the jump and I had erronously only brought one diaper with me...it was not pretty. My cell phone battery was almost dead allowing me to make only one phone call...like I was in jail or something, etc.) I'm going to list the good things that were in place that made this a minor inconvenience instead of a disaster.

I'm so thankful...

1. That I did not purchase frozen food.

2. That I watched Mr. Wizard as a child, thus gaining the vinegar/corrosion knowledge.

3. That I purchased vinegar.

4. And gauze pads.

5. That I had bananas, bologna, and marshmallows in my purchases...which makes a great lunch for Aaron.

6. That there are nice people in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

7. The forcast for rain was incorrect and it was, instead, a beautiful day. Perfect for hanging out in a parking lot with a screaming baby and a bologna eating toddler.

Okay, so Dan was right. I really could have used the battery charger thingy. It would have made my adventure so much easier. I guess I WAS at Wal-Mart so I could have gone in and purchased a new battery, borrowed a phone, bought diapers, etc. but it all worked out. I'm glad I made it home and I have resolved to not leave the house for the rest of the week...

Have a happy day!

Elizabeth Ann

Click here to view these pictures larger

Elizabeth Ann

She is here! Elizabeth Ann Hoppie 9lb 15oz 21 in. 10-19-10 1:56 pm. The big day finally came...okay, so we forced the big day, but she's here! We are just so excited to have another member in our family and are thankful for all the support and prayers that have helped us through this journey.

Alright, so here are some details...just in case you want the whole story;-) I really hesitated to be induced because I just really feel that things go better for everyone when the body does its own thing...but in the same breath Aaron was 41 weeks, 10 lb 12 oz with only 90 minutes of labor...a smaller kiddo and a more controlled delivery were sounding good. I decided to go ahead and be induced. Would I do it again? I'm not sure...but I AM sure that 39 weeks was a good idea...holy cow, she would have been HUGE if we let her grow for 2 more weeks!!!

We got to the hospital at 7 a.m.--I was only 3 cm and 60% effaced...grrr. The doctor broke my water around 8:30 and I moved to a 4...woohoo. We started the pitocin and 2 hours later...I was still a 4, dang! This continued for quite some time...lots of contractions but not a lot of action...my body really wasn't ready to give birth and baby girl seemed content to stay in as long as possible. We had a few rough moments where baby's heart rate dropped but a little oxygen and repositioning for me and she was okay. They tried to back off the pitocin to let baby rest but every time they did that the contractions stopped. Not slowed down or weakened, stopped. So we would restart the pit nice and slow and when the contractions got good and strong she would struggle, we would stop the pit and the contractions would stop...this vicious cycle continued on until about 1:30. At this time I was at a 7 and 80%...not too bad. Baby had an episode and we turned off the pit...but the contractions continued! Woohoo!!! Baby was in trouble a bit so Dr. checked again and holy moly it was baby time...once my body kicked into gear it was good to go! Baby girl was struggling so they decided the best thing for me to do was to just get her out...a few good pushes and welcome to the world Elizabeth!!! So how long was labor? I don't know...if you start from the induction time it was about 5 hours...if you start from the time my body kicked into gear it was about 1/2 hour...crazy!

She is here and she is wonderful. I just love how soft and snuggly they are when they are new! She does have a broken collar bone from delivery...ouch! Babies heal so quickly that by next week you won't be able to tell it was ever broken so we're just being a bit gentle with that arm and giving her extra kisses. She also has a heart murmur...but is not showing any symptoms of distress...we're not doing much for that either right now, just watching her a little more closely and hoping she'll grow out of it soon...most newborns do. We can't wait for everyone to meet her and thanks again for all the support and well wishes! Have a great day!!!

The Great Debate, please chime in...

So Aaron is pretty solidly potty trained. He hardly had any accidents anyway and it has been weeks since that occured. Even at night he seems to do well. I keep him in diapers at night because I just don't have the energy to change a bed if he happens to not make it but basically I throw away a dry diaper every single morning. I mentioned this to a friend and she seemed shocked that I would actually throw it away instead of reuse it. I can see the logic in reusing, diapers are expensive and it is hard to toss it when you know the absorbancy is still intact. On the other hand it is underwear...don't we all wake up dry every day and still change our underwear? If we only changed when we had an accident we could wear the same pair for years, decades even (I hope). My kids are hard sleepers...I'll check on them and they are all sweaty and passed out...you have to assume that if they are sweaty on one set of cheeks they are sweaty on both...

Anyway, what is your opinion on the great 'used but not really used' diaper debate?

At least I'm not an elephant

Okay, so yesterday I took Katherine, Kyle, and Aaron to the zoo...for the record Dan was opposed to the adventure...but I went anyway. Apparently there was a new elephant born last Sunday here at the Houston zoo, baby girl Tupelo. We didn't get to see her because she was still too new...the good news is that there was also a baby born 5 months ago and he was out and about so we still got to see a baby elephant, whew. Let me tell you that even though some days I feel like an elephant and may believe that I look like one, I am really, really glad that I am not ACTUALLY one. Baby Tupelo was born full term...at 22 months gestation...weighing 273 pounds. I think my attitude just improved.

Update

Okay, so I am realizing that I just don't blog a whole lot now that I'm not on vacation. Side note: the kids have repeatedly asked if we are going on that 'really long vacation' again next summer. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? They need to be taught the meaning of the phrase 'once in a lifetime'. We did make a cool Shutterfly book with the whole summer in it...we look at it a lot, that's enough vacation for me!

Anyway, I'm not a good blogger anymore but will hopefully have some 'blog worthy' news soon. Tomorrow is October and that is the month I have anxiously been awaiting! I know she won't be born until late October but there is still something nice about being able to say 'my baby is due THIS MONTH'. I'm ready for it...but I'm SO not ready for it.

I'm in that stage of pregnancy where I just can't stand to be pregnant one more day but as soon as I think about having the baby I panic and realize that I don't really want to do this! (I know, information that would have been helpful in January...) I just can't make up my mind...I know, there really isn't any decision to be made...we ARE having a baby...but you know what I mean. One minute I am READY, let's get this party started...I want to have the baby today! I can't take it one more day, pregnancy is the worst. The next minute, PANIC, I'm NOT ready for the baby. I have a million things to do and really, as tough as it is to be pregnant it is kind of easier to just leave her in there. This morning I overslept big time. I woke up and was positive it would be chaos...but I don't think the kids noticed. At all. They had finished breakfast and were getting dressed/packing lunches. Katherine and Tyler had even helped Aaron get a bowl of cereal and had traded his nighttime undies for his daytime ones. I was basically not needed. Oh how that will change so very quickly, square one here I come! But really, it will be awesome to meet her and snuggle...is there anything better than a brand new baby sleeping on you? I'm just a circus...pick an emotion and within 5 minutes I will probably get there ;-)

Okey dokey, I will stop this rambling and try to make something of this day. I want to just go back to bed...and chances are high that a nap will occur today...but I don't have anywhere I HAVE to go so I'm going to try to get some stuff done today. Seriously, nobody has organized our shoes or alphabetized our recipes or any of that vital stuff since we moved in...it really must be done, we can't bring a new baby home to such chaos.

Have a wonderful day, thanks for riding the roller coaster with me this morning.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER!!!

I just can't believe this guy is 11 already! Am I old enough to have an eleven year old? 11 years ago he made me a Mom (okay, so 11 years ago yesterday...) in one fell swoop we went from a young couple to parents. Gone were the days when we could just think about ourselves, Tyler was on the scene and he has been so patient with us as we've learned about this crazy thing called parenthood. A few years ago he got frustrated with us and complained about being our 'test kid'...he is so right! Everything we do with him we do for the first time and hope we do it right... Thanks T for being a really good test kid! He is such a great person and we're happy he's ours. He is growing up way too fast; he just started his last year of elementary school, is out of cub scouts, and instead of a themed birthday party just wanted 'some of the guys to come over for a barbecue and some ball'. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER! WE LOVE YOU!