Catie's big day!

Catie's big day was a long time coming!  I expected all of my children to be born early after Robbie came 4 weeks early.  It was a surprise when Alex waited until his c-section (forced eviction...ha!) and there were several times I thought Catie would come early (I was thinking during the 38th week).  When Catie's c-section was scheduled at 39 weeks, 6 days so I the same doctor could deliver her who delivered the boys I just figured she'd come early and be delivered by a different doctor.

Last Monday Robbie woke up yelling "Help Mommy!", so I ran into his room to check on him.  I think that put me into early labor.  I had Matt take me to the doctor just in case, though by the time my appointment came around I was pretty sure it was over but I figured I'd get checked anyway.  False alarm.  That night I started having contractions, though when I would time them they would stop for a while.  I didn't get much sleep that night.  I had fewer contractions during the day, though, and I figured I could hold out until Wednesday so I could be delivered by "my" doctor.

Matt's mom drove up Monday earlier than she had planned since we weren't sure if Catie was coming.  My parents, my grandpa, and Jim and Jean drove up Tuesday.  My parents and Abuelo went to see my cousin and her 6 month old son and Jim and Jean came to our house.  We all went to Panera for dinner.  It was the first time Robbie and Alex met my Abuelo, their Bisabuelo.  They were just so excited to see everyone.  Plus Mom got them a cookie, so that didn't help them sit still!


One last pregnancy picture

After dinner everyone came back to the house for a while.  We figured the kids weren't going to calm down any time soon, so we let them stay up a little later than usual.  It wasn't a bad idea!

My family and Abuelo.

I didn't sleep great Tuesday night because I started having contractions again.  By the time we left for the hospital they were coming every 8-10 minutes, though I think they were closing in on 7 minutes but I stopped timing them.  We had to check in at 5:30...way too early if you ask me!  It was an easy check in since I was the only woman in labor.  It ended up being a lot of hurry up and wait.  My parents came by around 6:45 and sat with us until it was time for me to go back to the operating room.

I think I was calling my mom.

Matthew's ready

I'm ready, too!

A little after 7 it was time to go.  I don't really know why, but they don't let Matthew in the OR right away, so they got me prepped and ready.  The baby nurse (she took care of Catie after she was born) asked me "Are you ready to meet your little girl?" to which I responded "It's a girl?"  Ok, that wasn't nice to do to the nurse, but I got a kick out of it.  I did let her know that I was just kidding, but there were definitely a few moments of silence while everyone thought that she had just ruined the surprise for us.  As Karma would have it, though, the spinal made me sick and the nurse anesthetist had to hold a baggie for me to throw up.  (I don't know why he was being punished!)  Shortly after, they let Matthew come in and the doctors started the c-section.  Matt thought it took a little longer this time, but as soon as Catie was out she started crying.  It was nice to not have to wait to hear that beautiful sound!  Catie was born at 8:10 am weighing 8 lbs, 7 oz and 20 1/2 inches long...just a little bundle of perfection!

After they let me see Catie, Matthew went with the nurse and Catie to the nursery to finish her check up.  The grandparents were ready and waiting to see her, too!

GiGi looking through the kiddie window.

So many women had given birth earlier in the week that there wasn't a room available for us, so we hung out in triage for a while.  Before the c-section my doctor asked if I had any questions.  I asked him when I could eat because I was really wanting a cinnamon crunch bagel from Panera.  He said I had to wait until I could handle ice chips and water.  I didn't think that was going to be a problem, though, after throwing up in the OR, I should have known better.  I never got sick again, but I did get super nauseous twice and thought I'd never be able to eat solid foods again.  (I was able to have crackers that night.)

Barbara brought the boys to the hospital that afternoon.  Robbie was so excited to meet Catie.  Alex didn't seem to care too much.

Bisabuelo and his youngest great-grandchild.

The 3 Grandfathers

At least we got Alex to smile!

The boys playing with my leg compressor.

Robbie loved holding Catie!

The boys and Catie.

It was a wonderful day and we love our little Catie!

A check up, a visit and a dentist

This will be long because I'm combining 3 posts into one.

Last week was my 37 week check up for Catie.  Even though I am now going once a week, the appointments aren't any different than when I was going once a month.  Everything is going well.  Catie is growing like she should and my vitals are good.  We just keep counting down the days until the 26th!

My parents drove up Friday for a weekend visit.  My mom wanted to come up one more time before Catie is born.  Glad Catie didn't come early! :)  They made it up in time for dinner Friday, which was good, because I planned a dinner that feeds a lot of people.

We did birthday presents Saturday morning.  Yes, Alex still had some birthday presents coming!  The first thing Alex opened was a jungle friends Play-Doh set.  We probably should have saved that for last since that's all Robbie wanted to play with once he saw it.  Alex also got a little grill set from Jonathan and Chat that they both love.  It came with a cute kabob set with different meat and vegetables and Alex loves taking them on and off.  It also came with ketchup and mustard bottles that Robbie keeps trying to give to Alex like a baby bottle.  Alex is a good sport and plays along.

Playing with the grill

Feeding Abuelo a hot dog.

After presents we decided to go to St. Augustine for a few hours.  The kids went with Jim and Jean when they were here a few weeks ago.  Unfortunately the weather wasn't great when then.  We had a much better day!

It also happened to be the Celtic celebration weekend.  There was something going on at their fairgrounds and we caught the back half of the parade.  I don't know how much the kids enjoyed the parade, but they loved the candy they kept getting!  I didn't love that they kept getting gum.  Who gives a 3 and 2 year old gum???  Some people had clover bead necklaces and I was hoping the boys would get one of those, but no such luck.

Irish dancer

Float

Robbie and Abuelo watching the parade.

I didn't know "Star Wars" was Celtic.

Apparently "Ghost Busters" is, too!

My dad yelled "Beetlejuice" three times and this was the guy's reaction.

The other bummer for the kids with their trip with Jim and Jean was that they didn't get to go inside the fort, so we took them with my parents.  They loved looking around and I think Robbie was really disappointed that he didn't actually get to fire a cannon!

Playing in the grass.

Two of the fort workers.

Grandma and Robbie

Grandma and Alex

Checking out the city from inside the fort.

Alex loved walking the fort steps.

Soldiers' sleeping mats.

Robbie trying out the bed.

Inside the prison cell.

 Trying out the cannons

Shoot the cannon!

Teamwork.

Where's the cannon ball?

After all of the walking and sunshine we were ready to head home.  Matthew offered to get the car and pick us up and no one objected. :)  Alex ended up falling asleep in my lap while we waited and Robbie fell asleep in the car.  I never thought about it, but the boys both got sun kissed (not really burned) with all of the time outside.  They could both use a little color, though. :)

Saturday was the fun day and, instead of Sunday being a day of rest, we put my parents to work.  (Not until after we had Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast!)  My dad and Matthew got to work in the garage getting it ready for a storage system that will be installed next week.  My mom helped fold some of Catie's laundry and sorted through multiple bags of clothes Lisa gave us for the boys.  We ended up with so many extra pairs of shorts I gave some to Robbie's friends because we had too many.  I might have to do that again next year when Robbie moves up to a 4T.  We literally ended up with 5 full bags of 4T clothes, plus a few 5Ts that snuck their way over.  I worked on getting our room ready for Catie.  We will pull in the recliner and get the bassinet set up in our room.  After the c-section, it's much easier for me to get into and out of the recliner than out of bed.

Yesterday was the boys' first dentist appointment.  I made it clear to Catie that she was not allowed to come before then so I didn't miss it!  Robbie was so excited to go.  Alex...no so much.  I think if we had taken Robbie when he was 2 he would have enjoyed it about as much as Alex did.  Fortunately for Robbie, he wasn't on our dental plan until this year.

"Finding Nemo" was playing in the waiting room, so I knew it would be hard to pull Alex away from that.  Someone (a hygienist that ended up not working with the boys??) had us come back and let the boys pick out a new toothbrush.  Alex couldn't have cared less about the toothbrushes.  He wanted to check out the Nemo fish tank!  Robbie picked out a toothbrush with fish on it.  I picked out a Jake and the Neverland Pirates toothbrush for Alex.

We let Robbie get his teeth cleaned first.  He climbed right up in the chair and let Ms. Kim count (10 teeth on top and bottom), polish (Robbie chose orange flavored toothpaste) and scrape his teeth.  She also used the water squirter and suction.  There is a tv in the ceiling so kids can watch a movie ("Finding Nemo") while getting their teeth cleaned.  I hoped that would be enough for Alex to sit and get his teeth cleaned, but...no.  I sat him in my lap and then laid him back so his head was in Kim's lap.  She just used his toothbrush and brushed his teeth (with strawberry flavored toothpaste) and even that was a struggle.  I'm assuming that the toothpaste is the gritty, polish-y kind that adults get (just not in fun flavors) and Alex could not get that stuff out of his mouth quick enough.  It was pretty much the same thing when the dentist ("the old guy", as Robbie referred to him) came in to look at their teeth.  Because of the way Robbie's teeth look, he thinks that Robbie will need braces in the future.  Obviously it's too early to tell, but I think it was just a heads up, go ahead and start saving now kind of thing!  I can't imagine he saw much in Alex's mouth, though with the extra set of hands he was able to spend a little more time with Alex than Ms. Kim did.  Robbie gets to go back in 6 months and Alex can wait to go back until next year.

Checking out the Nemo fish tank.

Looking through the treat box.

Showing off his new toothbrush and toothpaste.  (Robbie originally picked out a Monsters toothbrush and then went back and got the fish one.)

Getting settled.

Watching "Nemo"

Sunglasses to keep the bright light out of Robbie's eyes.

Getting cleaned

After the cleaning Robbie picked out these glasses and calls them his dentist glasses. :)  We got a pair for Alex, too.

I tried to get a picture of the boys in front of the office.

This was as good as I could get of Alex.  He was more than ready to leave!