Maeve and her 6 yo check up

Maeve is thriving and becoming a string bean.  She got a shot which made her a little nervous but she was very brave. 
weight 55 lb (55%ile)
height 49 1/2 in. (95%ile)
BIP=100/54

She had an extended birthday.  After her friend pool party, grandma took her to Target to pick out her birthday present on her actual birthday (she got 2 barbies and clothes).  Then Gma and Gpa and the family, minus daddy (he was in Erie Pa for work) went to her choice of restaurants...China Dynasty, a buffet in Graceland.  She ate 4 plates of food!!!  The waiters were extra friendly even thought hey couldn't speak English and gave her a piece of cake with a candle (see pic below).  Finally when daddy got home on Friday, we had a "family party" to open the remainder of her gifts and have more cake.  She must have gotten at least 10 barbies and some fun horses too.  (all her favorite currently!)

Happy 6th birthday Maeve!!!

How are you six?  I still remember you as my tiny baby who went with me everywhere.  I see you loving your friends and growing more and more independent.  I am so happy that you are confident and feel comfortable enough to be your own self but how my heart hurts that you will one day want little to do with me.  Anyway, you loved your birthday weekend.  While I had to do a little convincing that this weekend was better than what Kaleigh was doing (Kaleigh decided to spend the weekend with your cousins in Michigan since gma and gpa were going up to babysit).  We started the weekend with a pancake feast at the highschool for a fundraiser.  You practiced stuffing your face after watching a pancake eating contest and played on some super fun bouncy slides.  You had a great birthday party at the community pool with all the girls from your class and

Welcome Declan Owen!!

Our baby boy was born on February 5, 2013 at 8:05 pm.  It was an eventful and crazy day but most importantly, he came out healthy and we are soooooo happy.

He weighed 9 lbs. 5 oz. and was 21 1/4 in. long.  His apgar scores were 8 and 9.  Here are the details....

I started having contractions around 12 but figured they were braxton hicks since I had been having them frequently and they had been feeling "crampy".  I did all the textbook suggestions to get them to stop, laying down, drinking water, walking....nothing really helped but they weren't getting worse and weren't regular.  Finally at 3 pm after picking Maeve up from school, I called the doctor.  When I talked to them at 4 pm, they asked the regular questions, were they getting worse (no), how far apart (irregular from 3-10 minutes) etc.  They said since it was my fourth child I should probably go to the hospital to get checked out.  Jon and I arrived at 4:45 and they hooked me up.  After about 15 minutes the nurse came in and said they were real contractions, about 3 minutes apart and that I was 4-5 cm.  She said we needed to wait and see what the MD would want to do (have us walk around to see if I dilated more or go ahead and get admitted).  Just then Dex's heart rate dropped.  About 5 more nurses came in and made me get on my hands and knees since his heart rate wasn't going up.  They started talking about an emergency c-section and I was in tears.  Finally it went back up and the nurse declared " you just bought yourself an admission".  They set me up in a room and talked about breaking my water but then decided not to so that I could wait for my blood work to come back (so I could op in to an epidural if my platelets were above 100).  Jon and I made ourselves comfortable and around 7 pm I started feeling more uncomfortable and talked to the nurse about an epidural.  Then around 7:30 your heart rate dropped really low again.  Back on my hands and knees, the MD decided to go ahead and break my water.  She stated things would probably move quickly and to get the epidural.  They checked me and I was 6-7 cm at 7:45 pm when the anesthesiologistcame in to put the epidural in.  Jon and everyone but the nurse left.  I had to sit up to wait for the anesthesiologist to prepare my back and put the needle in.  It felt like forever and I was starting to curse with each contraction and was begging for him to hurry up.  The nurse told me to stay still and hang in there.  Just as he was finally putting the needle in I told the nurse I had to push and could feel him coming.  She had me lay down and there he was!  I was crowning.  The nurse was telling me to stop pushing, calling for help (there was MD to deliver him) and I felt his head come out.  Then the nurse was telling me to push again to get his shoulders out and I was like "hell no!  that hurt!!!"  She yelled at me to push and I pushed again and out you came.  =)  By then, the MD was coming in and went to cut the cord.  The nurse said to stop, could she wait while we got Jon.  So they rushed out and got daddy in time for him to cut the cord.  Jon walked in and was amazed.  He didn't believe he had actually been born.  So to sum it up.  From 7:45 to 8 pm, I dilated 4 cm and had a 9.5 lb baby, without pain meds!!  It was something I had wanted to experience and am so glad I did, but I gotta say, it really does hurt and I can't imagine how women do it when it takes longer than 15 minutes!!!

 

He is beautiful and we are so blessed.

Kaleigh at almost 4 1/2 years old!

Kaleigh during her first playdate.  She was so excited!  She woke up talking about Charlotte from preschool coming over.  She and Charlotte had a great time and played forever in the sink with the farm animals.  Kaleigh told Charlotte she was the "bestest friend ever" and "this was the bestest playdate" and "it was her first ever playdate and she was so happy".

 My fun Kaka!  One thing I try to do to break up the day and bad moods is have dance parties.  Kaleigh is taking ballet which she loves and seems to have some good moves with hip hop too!
Kaleigh at almost 4 1/2 yo.
-loves school: she always says her high of the day is going to school and her low of the day is not going to school on the days she is didn't go.
-is my peace maker and people pleaser :  she want so much for everyone to get along and be happy.  She is flexible and almost always willing to give up a toy to make the peace.  Unfortunately, she gets upset and cries from things both Maeve and Teagan do to her. 
-she's going through the whiny stage.  Wow, it is hard to hear and I must say "I can't understand you unless you talk like a big girl" about 100 times a day.  I hope she grows out of it soon.
-she is into saying "I love you mom" about 10 times a day, makes my day every time!!!!!!!!!!
-Our big dilemma is whether or not to send her to kindergarten next year.  I can't really get anyone to say definitely send her (except grandpa).  Everyone around Worthington holds their kids back so she would be by far the youngest but she loves school and really seems ready academically.  I do think she will be emotionally exhausted at a full day school and socially shy (but not sure if that will ever change).  Plus, I really want Kaleigh and Maeve to remain close and if they are separated by two years in school, I don't think that will happen (while one year might still encourage it).  I am going through the motions to do both, enrolling in Worthington Presbyterian Preschool and Kindergarten.  I am getting her tested and waiting to see those results.  What to do!!!!

Happy 2013!

So I pretty much decided to take 2012 off.  I feel guilty about all the milestones I missed out on reporting, and we have had so much that happened during 2012. I have to say, all of it has been a true blessing and I hope to stop more frequently in 2013 and remember to be grateful for all I have. The best two highlights of 2012 included our move in July to Ohio. We have a great home and the girls have transitioned easily to worthington.  I probably miss deepwood and Virginia the most. It's hard not to be sentimental for the home where our family began. I miss my friends there too, but have enjoyed being closer to family and my childhood friends. I also feel like I haven't settled into what life will really be like yet because in May, I found out I was pregnant. Moving and settling in during the first trimester was tough and a 4th pregnany in less than 6 years has been hard on my body. (it is very mad at me!). I can't wait to meet this boy ( what a surprise!) and move forward with our complete family. Just 4 more weeks ( or maybe a little earlier!). I am lucky that besides the "typical" (amplified)  aches and pains, things have gone well. I don't remember being so anxious for this part to be done but I am sure I always get that way.

We will see when this boy decides to come out and meet us. He has a valentine due date and I go in two days for my 36 week check up. I keep crossing my fingers things are progressing.

I hope to get some good blogs in about each of the girls. They are all amazing, so different and so much fun!!!

Teagan's first birthday and some!!!

A little late entry but I wanted to get it down so that I can look back and remember. Keeping in line with the Calkin's girls, there is nothing little about her. She is all personality, smiles and of course, size.....

Height: 30 1/2 in. (95%ile)

Weight: 24 lb. 11 oz. (98% ile)

Head: 90% ile

So for her first birthday, we celebrated with Lolo and Papa and had a little family gathering. She had red velvet cake and didn't get much opportunity to open her presents since Maeve, her other mother, wanted to help. She loved the cake and especially liked the icecream.

After months of practicing cruising, she was quick to take her first steps right after Thanksgiving and by Christmas she was keeping up with her sisters. From the start, she preferred being upright.

At Christmas, she loved sitting in the little chairs that went with the table Santa brought the girls. She quickly found out that she can climb onto the table too! I suppose with all the stairs in our house, no doubt she would love them and master climbing. It is her favorite thing to do.

She doesn't really have any words (almost 14 months old) but says dada, mama sometimes, ma for more (she can sign that and alldone). I hope as an SLP, she starts talking soon! She does babble a ton and understands so much. She can ID her teeth, follow simple directions, blow kisses and gives great hugs when asked.
She loves, loves, loves carrying around things and typically has something in both hands. She is into everything! It's crazy how persistent she is about getting what she wants. She can carry some pretty heavy things!

Teagan is my number one cuddlier. She loves to snuggle, gives the best hugs and gets jealous when I am cuddling with Kaleigh.

I am almost done nursing her, down to only at night but lately she hasn't been very happy about that. She has shown her temper recently. While we were in Connecticut for my uncle's funeral, she screamed bloody murder for 1 1/2 hrs. and didn't want anything, not me, not her pacifier, NOTHING. We were the family at the hotel that your are rolling your eyes and wondering why they can't get their baby to be quiet. The second night, I gave her a bath at 3:30 am which calmed her down and Jon drove her around at 5:30 am when she started up again. She has also done some serious temper tantrums when she hadn't gotten "mommy milk" as I have been weaning her, but not quite as out of control!

So she is still taking two naps, goes down around 7 pm and can drink from a sippy cup. She loves meat, blueberry pancakes, applesauce and appears to be more picky than the other girls. She is hit or miss on vegis, bananas and even yogurt if there are any chunks.

It all is a blur and with working I feel like I am gonna miss it all. I just love these times with the girls! Cross my fingers that in 2012 I find some better balance.

Halloween 2011

Fun times with neighborhood parties, preschool parades and trick or treat. Maeve was ecstatic and on trick or treat night was out of her mind excited. Running from door to door and coming back each time, holding her bucket out saying "look how much candy I have". Kaleigh, in her typical fashion was all smiles, strolling along waving her arms, and walking her walk. Maeve was "walking" Ariel (the key part of the costume was the red hair), Kaleigh was snow white (her favorite princess, since "the dwarfs make her laugh") and Teagan was a bumble bee (flashback to 2007, Maeve's first Halloween).