"Bird Flew...

...into the baby's room", Emma comes downstairs crying. I say "Huh?" I know I couldn't have heard her correctly. I ask where the bird is now, and she says she doesn't know. So I go upstairs, pretty sure there is just a bird flying outside the closed window in John's room. But sure enough, as soon as I get to the top of the stairs, here comes flying out of the baby's room is a little sparrow!

I call Jim because I am not really sure what to do. He wants to go all "PETA" and humane and get the bird out without harm. Blah, blah, blah. My first instinct is to schwack it down with a racket. But then again, I don't want to get hit in the head with a crazy bird or have to get a dead or injured bird out of the house.

Emma decides that she wants to help, so we devise a plan. First, we have to get the baby in a "safe" room. We move him to my room. She gets on the bed with him and tells him not to be afraid.

It just so happens that Muno (Yo Gabba! Gabba!) is singing "Don't Be Afraid" at the very same time. I Swear! I couldn't make this stuff up!

Then Emma and I shut all the doors upstairs except for her's and John's and make a bread trail between the rooms.

We open her window, which proved to be easier said than done, and she came up with the genius idea to get a cage (we don't have one so "this box will work, right Mom?") and keep the damn bird, which she was just 10 minutes ago crying about, as a pet. Yeah, that is a GREAT idea! Anyway...

The bird is pretty happy in the baby's room. He keeps flying into the closet and then around the room and landing on the bed or behind the rocking chair:

Finally, he gets "stuck" in the closet, so I have to coax him out with a broom. Now, don't go call PETA. All I did was shake some clothes around and he flew out and then onto the T.V. in the game room. Awesome!

Well, at least that was enough time to close the baby's door so his only option was down the stairwell (dear God, please don't let him do that!) or out the window in Emma's room. Eventually, he decided the second of the two options was the best, and we all lived Happily Ever After. Especially Emma, who thought it was so cool to have a bird in the house AND get to throw bread on the floor and out the window.

Moral of the story: A bird in the baby's room is worth an afternoon of fun with your four-year old (and a load of crib bedding laundry and vacuuming.)

Hot Mom With Some Relay Action

This was supposed to be a "Dad" chaperoned field trip. The permission slip was sent home two weeks ago and I asked Jim if he would like to go; he said "Sure!" He hasn't gone to any of Xavier's field trips thus far and a third grade trip to the National Institute of Fitness and Sport sounds perfect for a dad to chaperone, don't you think? I certainly did!
However, two weeks passed, time for the field trip arrived and Jim wasn't able to be off work, so Mom got to go instead (yip...eee :() I am not now, nor have I ever been, athletic or fit. I really despise physical activity, so attending this field trip was only a duty, not a pleasure. I am the zoo/museum/musical mom, NOT a SPORTS mom....
The kids got to do lots of fun things:

Rock Wall climbing (which I did not get any pictures of because Xavier wanted a video of it instead, but that darn thing won't load here. Stupid website!)

Scooter Races

Beachball Volleyball Obstacle Courses and...

RELAY RACES (oh what fun...)

Our group had an odd number of students, so to even up the pairs we needed an adult volunteer. Have I mentioned that I am NOT athletic or physically inclined? AND I just had a c-section 7 weeks ago? Anyway, no other adult volunteered, so I did the good chaperon thing and offered myself. I hope these children understand one day the sacrifices I made for them :)

Here are some pictures of the glorious event:

At first I was paired up with Christopher Breedlove

And here is me, making a WAY stupid face as I try not to fall down doing what the kids called "karaokee". No, I did not fall. Yay me! But for the last race, Xavier wanted to race me. His team was behind, and since I was the last runner, I made sure his team was winning at the end. Hey, he's my kid and I wanted him to win, dang it! (even though I totally could have creamed him.... give me some credit, it was the only time in my life I ever even had a chance at winning a relay race - again, I am NOT athletic! I hated P.E. and wanted to call in sick on Field Day So, in the end, it was a fun day. The kids got to learn about taking care of their bodies, I "almost" won the relay race, and at lunch back at the school, Xavier tore his sandwich in half to share with me since I didn't bring anything for myself. He is such a dear, sweet boy! And I am glad I got to be the substitute for Dad on this one!

My Favorite Valentines Day

My favorite Valentines Day was celebrated a day late, at a restaurant we always go to and stopping to pick up diapers on the way home to get the kids.

My favorite Valentines gift was nothing more than a letter that said everything I've ever wanted to hear.

My favorite Valentines memory is waking up, still in my pj's, in the arms of the one person who has always had my heart.

My favorite Valentine is you!

I love you more with every breath I take!

Valentine Ornaments and a Pizza: By Us

Emma and I decided to make Valentines for the family this year. Here are the ingredients and tools we needed:

Here is Emma pouring the (LOTS) of cinnamon on top of the applesauce (who'da thunk cinnamon and applesauce could make dough?)



This is what Emma called the "poop". I'll admit, it did resemble it a bit.


Here she is cutting out our shapes. To be honest, this project wasn't as easy or kid friendly as I had hoped. Or maybe it is that I am TERRIBLE with dough!


Here are all of our shapes, and Emma putting in the string holes.


We baked them for 2 hours. There are no pictures of that. It was lunchtime and that was a little like watching the grass grow... :)

But the next morning, Emma worked on her gift tags.


And here is the finished product! (Ta Da!)



And here are my goofy two posing in front of their (dysfuntional) pizza. Xavier doesn't eat toppings and Emma LOVES sausages.

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!

Eek and Egads and Stuff!

So now, the time is near. We are at 35 weeks 4 days. I can't believe how quickly it has all gone. This belly of mine has certainly rounded itself out and our little mister makes himself very well known pretty much all the time.

The past few weeks have been pretty boring. Just the NSTs and weekly visits, all which have gone pretty smashingly. I have only gained 19 lbs (okay, well, today it was 21, but I have fluctuated between 19 and 21 the past 5 weeks, so I am going with 19...) My blood pressure looks great, usually about 100/60's. Sugars are what they are. I have had the most trouble in this third trimester of any of my pregnancies, but it is not completely out of whack. I have only had 2 days of swelling - more of that will come after Jack Jack gets here; it always does.

And today, Dr. Lupton gave me the Rx for the Heparin. I turned it in and will start taking it over the weekend or the very beginning of next week. It is a two-a-day shot instead of just one, but really, what is one more shot at this point?

And then I asked THE question: "What happens if I go into labor between now and the 13th?" Dun, dun, dun, duh.... Answer: "We'll deliver you."

What the heck? How can that be? How is it possible that at any time within the next 14 days, I could be having this baby? Is anyone else as NOT ready for that as me? 'Cause I am WAY not ready for that. Am I ready to be able to take a shower without feeling winded? Sure. Am I ready to wear my comfy jeans again? Why not? But am I ready to add another member to this family? Uh... we don't have any receiving blankets or burp cloths!!! How can I be ready for this without receiving blankets or burp cloths? (and my mother says "well, you've still got two weeks" - News flash lady: Apparently, maybe not!)

Really, I am ready. I am just a little freaked out. The surgery, honestly scares the crap out of me. And I know I have been so blessed before to have fantastic little babies, so I am just hoping my luck has not run out. I just have to remember I am not breast feeding, so I CAN take the happy pills if Jack Jack comes out being Damien instead of an angel. (Humor folks, it's all I've got left).

So now, I am off to go pack my bag. I guess I should get it ready because anytime this thing could happen, and the last thing I need is to have to explain to Jim where the travel sized toiletries are. If I get real industrious before the baby gets here, maybe there will be one more baby belly picture to add, but let's not get ahead of ourselves now. :)