She's still the princess

I knew to expect it, and last night my little princess was crying in her bed because she still wants to be the baby.

I had already put her to bed, which included 30 extra "mommy minutes" of playing and laughing. I am very aware that there is a great adjustment going on here, and I want to make sure noone in our house feels replaced or forgotten. AND it was the first time in several months I was actually able to hop on her bed and tickle her and really have fun.

When I left the room, after a million kisses, John Chelsea had started to stir. I went in and started getting him ready for a diaper and bottle. Em heard me and in she came. I let her help a little, but then sent her back to her room because I was getting ready to go downstairs. I poked my head in her room before I headed down, and I saw her wiping her eyes.

I asked what was wrong and she couldn't tell me. So I started asking questions "Are you mad?" (Em: head shake) "Are you sad?" (Em: Nod) "Ok, are you sad because it's bedtime?" (Em: shake) "Are you sad about the baby?" (Em: wipe eyes and nod) Of course, at this time, John Chelsea is starting to get really mad he is not getting his late evening bottle...which makes it hard to tell the four-year old not to hate her brother for needing Mommy's attention while he is screaming in my ear.

So I sit down with her, give her a great big hug and kiss and we talk about it (through the crying baby). I tell her she wasn't really a baby anymore anyway. And now, she is something that she wasn't before: a BIG sister. And I explain to her that the baby will grow up too and won't be little like this forever. Xavier used to be the baby and then she was born and he became the big brother. And I still love him just as much as always. And I tell her that when a baby is growing in a mommy's belly, her heart is growing too, so she will have a enough love for the new baby and noone will have to share. Mommies never run out of love. And besides, she is the only other girl, so she is the only one I have to do great girl stuff like Barbies and Princesses and dresses and pink with. If it weren't for her, I would be the ONLY girl and would be stuck doing all boy stuff (eww!!!). This got a smile.

We had a million more hugs and kisses and "I love you's" and wiped the last few tears away. This has been a hard week for her. Couldn't he have waited until after her birthday to steal her sunshine? I just hope everyone remembers on Saturday that it is HER birthday party - not a "Welcome home, Baby" party.

Love you tons, Gracie Bops!

Not how we planned it

Okay, so last night got a little exciting. Everything was going along just fine. I decided to do my late evening nap on the couch while Jim watched GSN and his man crush boyfriend Bob Saget on 1 vs. 100. After just a short 20 minute nap, I woke up, jumped off the couch and said "Um, my water just broke." I think Jim thought I was joking until I ran to the bathroom. This was not just a little sprinkle. Oh no, it was a full rupture! Fantastic!

So Jim calls the doctor and it just so happens that Dr. Lupton is the one on call today (btw THANK GOD!) He calls us back about 10 minutes later and tells us to head to the hospital to be checked and get ready for the c-section. At this time, it is about 10:30 and the kids are in bed. We get them up after calling my mom and head out the door.

When we get to the hospital, they get me all checked in and my mom gets there to take the kids back to Nana's house. With all this H1N1 crap, they aren't allowed to stay or even come up to visit later. They determine that I am a "full rupture" and we are all set for the c-section. Except for one thing: there are other people ahead of me, so I have to wait my turn for the OR. What the heck!?! I didn't know L&D was a "take a number" kind of place. LOL

My aunt gets to the hospital and we end up having to wait until 1:15 a.m. to be taken to surgery. I only get some kind of spinal block shot instead of a full epidural with the tubing (and sucky tape on my back). Jim comes in with his ET style jumpsuit on and away we go. It seems like it took forever, but at 1:44 a.m., little John Chelsea Koehl was born! He has a strong set of lungs, tons of hair, and weighs 8 lbs. 6 oz. and is 21 inches long. He has 16 inch shoulders and 3 inch feet (I coulda told you that long before I ever saw him).

The next part is the most awesome part. He is doing great! And he is the only one of our babies who got to stay with us the whole time and never had to go to the NICU. He came back to the room with me, I got to feed him, Aunt Brenda got to hold him, we got lots of pictures. Everything was perfect. I was feeling great and got to enjoy the whole experience.

We are so greatful for everything that we are blessed with and the awesome experience we got to have.

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!