Fatherly/Brotherly bonding

While Tatum was off having fun at the beach, Dylan and Druz headed off to get their hair cut with the brothers brothas.

Getting a hair cut can be so tiring! 

Not sure why he is making this face but he still looks cute...This one is for you, Dad!

First Night Out

I had my first semi-break down today.  And I only had 2 kids with me!  Needless to say, when Alison asked if I was up for a drink with the girls, it couldn't have come at a better time.  It was nice to get out and feel human again!  Thanks to my hubby for taking one for the team and managing all three kiddos.

Family Pictures

Better latethan never.  These were the pictures from our maternity session in August.  They are now outdated since we have an edition to the family but just wanted to post them anyways.

My girl is SMART!

Call me what you want.

Tatum is doing so well in school.  I really hope she keeps it up.  I realize this isn't indicative of the rest of her school years, necessarily, but I have to give her credit and praise while she is kicking butt.  She is the youngest in her class and one of only two kids that are in a higher level of books.  She can write her first and last name as well as Druz name and Dylan's name.  She is sounding out words and really motivated to learn and write.

We are working on her sight words at home and she is doing great with the books her teacher gives her as well as her numbers and writing.  I really couldn't be more proud.

We had considered holding her back since her birthday is three days from the cut off but with her excelling the way she is, it's a little hard to justify holding her back.  Her teacher says she is ready socially as well as academically and that she could survive kindergarten now if she were there.

We are now considering putting her in some sort of dual language program so she can learn spanish.  I'm all for it, except I don't know spanish so I'm either going to have to learn or always wonder if she is cursing at me when she speaks it.  Hmmmm.

Being a parent is hard, even when the kids are young.  So many decisions and you're always thinking...Am I messing my kid up???

So for now...Go Tatum, we are so very proud of you!

Vicki came over yesterday and took the kids to the park.  I haven't gone out much lately and the kids really need to stay active!  So it was SO nice for her to take them!

Druz is doing the best he can.  He is being potty trained and doing really well.  He wants to be held a lot right now and doesn't like it when I leave whether it's driving away or just leaving the room.  Poor guy is having a hard time.  He also is misbehaving a little more than normal, which makes it difficult to take the kids out.  Time outs don't phase him and I'm not the spanking kind.  Although, I can see why one would be!  He has definitely tested my patience the last week but I'm hoping its just a phase and this too shall pass...right???

You've got to love her style. ;o) 

Hmmmm. Do you think they are bored?

Even Carmen is tired of looking at her!

She likes to lay on the floor and stretch out her skinny little legs every once in a while.  

Oktoberfest

There was a neighborhood party...Oktoberfest...yesterday in the park.  After church we all took some naps then Dylan had a double header with softball so I gathered up the kids and walked to the park.  

Mom and Vicki met me there.  It's always so nice to have a little help!

I need to get batter at including Camdyn in some more pictures.  She just sits so quietly I almost forget she is around!

Dad's Visit

Dad was in town the week before the baby was born.  He originally was planning to come the first week in October but since I was working Christmas in Cowtown, I told him it would be best if he came the week before.  He would have been here for the baby's birth if he just stuck to the original plan.  OOPS!

Anyways, we watched a lot of football.  On TV and live.  We went to Tyler's game and Tross' game and the boys went to the TCU game and we of course watched Thursday Night Football as well as more college games after they got home from the TCU game.

The kids loved him being here, all four of them and I'm sure Dad enjoyed hanging out with all his grandkids just as much.

Neither of us took many pictures so here is all we had.

Dad watched the kids while I went to my doctors appointment.  When I got home they had all kinds of worksheets out.  He must have put them to work.

Dad also went to Tatums soccer practice on thursday and her game on Saturday before the TCU game.

I'm sad we didn't get anymore pictures, especially of him and the kids.  We will have to make up for it over Thanksgiving when we see him again..

Last night I cried...

We watched The Croods for our "Family Movie" last night.  After the movie was over, Druz got up and danced around to the music.  It was so sweet and cute and precious and I just got teary eyed just thinking about how precious these moments are.  All the kids are in such a fun stage and I just want to remember and cherish every second.

No post-pregnancy hormones going on here.  Ha!

We also took our first family walk today.  We just went around the block and it started raining.  I told Dylan, it's so typical for it to start raining as we are trying to take a nice family stroll around the block for the first time with our newborn.  His response... "We're making memories, babe, making memories."

School Pictures

The kids had their school pictures a few weeks back.  This is a picture of the picture but you get the idea.  

They took pictures together and then individual ones as well.

A few pictures from after we arrived home...

Tatum is beyond smitten with her little sister 

My Boys 

Druz went to the hardware store with G-Pop and Daddy. 

 We call her our little white girl.  Tatum and Druz had a little color to them but this little girl doesn't have any at all and I think she is going to have blue eyes!

Sleeping Beauty...her favorite sleeping spot.

Wreath on our door 

Vicki came over Sunday night and made s'mores with the kids.

We have no idea who she looks like, other than the light hair and the blue eyes (that's right, she has blue eyes so far!!!)  She looks nothing like any of us!

They can't get enough of her!

Zoo Fun

Ron has been in town since Camdyn arrived and Liza came in town Sunday night.  They have been such a big help!  They got the kids out and took them to the zoo for a day of fun!

Eating some lunch 

Carousel Rides!

And baby makes 5!

It's official, we have another baby!

Camdyn Annabelle Harig
Born October 2, 2013 at 9:02pm
6 pounds 15 ounces, 18.5 inches long

Hospital Door Wreath

 Proud Daddy

She was a little unexpected.  We had our normal weekly check up on Wednesday (the 2nd) and I hadn't progressed much from the week before, which was a little surprising.  The doctor thought he felt her hands when checking things out so he decided to do a sonogram.  This girl is an acrobat.  She decided to do a flip on us since the last appointment and was now breech again!

Since I was dilated to a 3 and 60% effaced the doctor said I needed to have the baby today.  He said he knew that the baby and I were both healthy right now and that is what's important.  If I left his office, he can't guarantee that I will return in the same condition because if I went into labor or dilated anymore, I would be at high risk for the umbilical cord falling out and causing some serious issues.  I needed to be admitted right then.

I panicked a little knowing that a c-section was a strong possibility.  Not that it was the end of the world, just wanted to avoid it with this likely being my last delivery and having to go home and recover while attempting a normal life with two other small kids.

I sent Dylan to do a few of my errands that I needed to do for the day and to get my hospital bag and clothes for himself while I went and checked into the hospital.

The doctor said we could try a version (ECV), where they attempt to turn the baby.  I have heard it's very painful but was willing to give it a try in order to avoid a c-section.  The version has risks and my doctor was very clear about everything.  He hadn't had much luck with the procedure and actually stopped doing them all together.  Also there was a chance that the placenta could separate from the uterus which would be an emergency c-section and no time for a spinal tap so they would have to put me under.

I was checked in ready to go by 11 but since I had breakfast, not knowing I was having a baby that day, I had to wait until 4pm to get the epidural so I sat in bed pretty bored for about 5 hours.

Once the doctor arrived I had the epidural which was between a normal birth epi and a c-section strength, just in case I had to go through with the surgery after all.  I felt like my lungs were paralyzed and had trouble breathing...that's how strong this epidural was.

I always get nauseous with epidurals so they gave me some oxygen to get through it.  I also had to lay on my right side for a couple hours in hopes the baby wouldn't turn again.

When they did the ECV I just laid down and closed my eyes.  I was told if I tensed up, it wouldn't work so I didn't want to tense up just by seeing what he was doing to my stomach.  Dylan said it looked awful and that I would for sure be sore the next day.  He also said he did not think this was going to work and was absolutely amazed when he could see the doctor turning the baby!

So...it WORKED!  I am one of 3 patients this has every worked for for my doctor in his 20+ years of delivering babies.  My prayers payed off!  She turned and he immediately broke my water in order for her head to fall a little lower in hopes that she won't turn again before delivery.

I labored for a couple hours and then it was time to meet her.

We are hoping she gave us all this trouble in the womb and that now she will be our perfect angel.  The doctor realized half way through pushing that she was facing backwards which makes it difficult to deliver because they have to hyper extend their neck to come out.  Sometimes they will get stuck so a c-section was back on the table.  At that point I decided I had been through enough and there was no way I was going to be wheeled back for surgery, so I gave it my all and then some!  She finally made her debut after what seemed like an eternity.

Vicki and Mom came up to the hospital to meet Camdyn.

It was late in the evening so we didn't have the kids come up to the hospital and they had school in the morning.

Dylan was a trooper.  We went to bed around 1am and then got up around 6 because Thursday just happened to be "Donuts with Dad" at the kids school.  It worked out great since G-Pop was here to help he was able to have donuts with one of the kids while Dylan was with the other.

Tatum and Druz came up to the hospital to finally meet their sister after school.  They were so excited and wanted to hold her and wanted to know when we were coming home.  They didn't stay too long because Tatum had soccer practice so Dylan, G-Pop and the kids headed out while I spent some time resting and hanging out with little Camdyn.

We stayed in the hospital two nights.  Other than the food, we were treated like royalty and I would have liked to stay forever.  They took the baby at night and only brought her in for feedings.  She slept 6 hours the first night so that was nice, especially since we were both pretty exhausted.

My gourmet meal

Sleepy Daddy

She was happy to head home

That's what friends are for...

Cue the music.

I'm working Christmas in Cowtown this week and had a conflict with picking up the kids at school and taking them to gymnastics.  So, my good friend Liz, stepped in to save the day.  She picked up all the kids from school and took them to gymnastics then to our house, where Dylan met them.  What a trooper.  She sent me this picture of the 5 kids (she has 3, plus my two).  

What am I going to do without this girl!