Welcome to the world G4!!

Giuliana Marie has arrived!! She made her entrance to the world Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 7:59 AM. Her cry was absolutely beautiful! She weighed in at 7 lbs 10 oz and 19.5 inches long. She has beautiful non-blond hair. Matt's first words after she was delivered were "She's huge!" (Our biggest baby before her was only 4 lbs 3.5 oz.) My first words were "She sounds amazing!" As soon as they got her cleaned up they brought her over so I could see her. She is absolutely gorgeous. I got to touch her and kiss her--something I've never experienced before. It was the most amazing experience I've ever had.
Matt then went with her into the nursery where they did her assessment and admitted her.
While they were stitching me back up I started to feel sick and had trouble breathing but they gave me some medicine to help and I felt fine again.
I was out of surgery and in recovery at 8:40 AM.
By 10 AM I was back in my room. Matt and Giuliana were just behind me. They were followed by Mom, Marcia, Jacob, G1, G2, G3, John & Cathy (Grandpa & Grandma Fairlie). G1 was very eager to meet his new baby sister and climbed up on the bed with me as soon as he was allowed. Everyone else was eager too--they just held it in better than he did.
By 11 AM I had G4 to the breast and after a couple tries she finally got the latching on thing. She has been nursing like a champ since.
After a few days in the hospital we are now home and well. Everything is going wonderfully. I couldn't ask for anything to be more perfect now. While a VBAC is what I really wanted I am very happy with how things are. Having a c-section is going to make the next few weeks or more a little more difficult but we will make it through.

Pictures will come with the next post (hopefully later today).

The Stork Has Arrived

Baby and Mommy are doing well. Just wanted to let everybody know baby is here! Details forthcoming from Matt or Ronda.

Happy Memorial Day!

Yesterday we took a walk to downtown. On our way back home we walked around the railroad museum and train station. Here are some pictures of us in front of the train:

The 3Gs

Matt and the 3Gs

Ronda and the 3Gs

These are from the rest of our walk home:

G3

G1 and G3 kissing

Today we were in the Memorial Day parade with the people from my doctor's office as well as other patients. It was a nice day for the parade. G1 and G3 rode in the stroller. G2 rode on Matt's shoulders most of the way. They all had fun--especially G2. We even had Mom walking with us. It was a fun time.

BEFORE THE PARADE

G3

G2

Grammy and G1

G1 with his new sunglasses

G2 with her new sunglasses

G3 with her new sunglasses

G2 trying to take things from G3 (yes she succeeded)

Our family

G3

DURING THE PARADE

G2 and Matt

G3 with the flag we waved

G1

G2 walking in the parade with Matt

G2 and Matt again

AFTER THE PARADE

Our family

Grammy and the 3 Gs

G2

G3

G1 and Grammy

We then went to the park and had a picnic.

G1

G2

Matt and G3 (isn't Matt cute??!)

G3, Ronda, Grammy, G2, and G1

G3

G2

Here is a video of G2 during the parade (if you listen carefully at the beginning you can here her say "cheese" because she thought I was just taking a picture):

Here is a short video of what the girls were doing yesterday during nap-time:

*Jessie--we will not be coming down tomorrow on the train. :-( I'm just not feeling the best and figure it's not a good idea to risk it. It just means that you guys will have to come visit us very soon. I mean you have to come anyway to meet G4. :-)

What does an "Uh-Oh" say?

G1 has been saying the funniest things lately. Here are just a few examples (I have more to add another time):

*When someone has a runny nose he says: Nose is running around
*He calls pasta "pa-stuff"
*Almost everyday he tells me he is something; ie: dinosaur, monster, dog, etc... Yesterday he was an "Uh-Oh." After deciding that he says to me "What does an "Uh-Oh" say?" I replied "I don't know what does an "Uh-Oh" say?" "Uh-Oh!" It was so funny.
*When he hides things he tells us "You'll never find it!"

38 week appointment

Today is my 38 week mark. We had our final regular OB appointment. Everything looked good. Blood pressure was the highest it's been and it was still really good (118/78). We are all set for next Wednesday, provided I really do make it to then. If I go into labor before then I think I will still try for a VBAC.
I am so ready to have this baby but I really want to savor the last few days I have with GMFx3 before she arrives.
Monday (provided I'm not in the hospital) we will be walking in the Memorial Day parade. My OB asked if we would like to join them--they are representing growing families. I thought it would be fun for the kids and Matt agreed so we're going to do it. Of course that will probably put me into labor--at least my OB and his nurses will be right there. :-)

We're getting down to the wire...

For any of you that missed it I have an online game for guessing the info about the baby: gender, weight, birth date, time, length. It's just for fun--the link is on the side --->
If you would like to enter in a guess and haven't yet now is the time. I will be locking the game this weekend.

I'm ready...

I've been so nervous this whole pregnancy, but now I am really getting anxious and excited. I've had a feeling something would go wrong just like it always has for me and babies. But I'm starting to really feel good about everything. As much as I haven't been wanting a c-section I've really become okay with it--in fact kind of looking forward to it.
I know this will be my chance to cuddle with my new baby right away as opposed to days after delivery like it has always been for me. I can't wait to nurse a baby again. That is one of the many things that I miss from G1 being a little baby. I could never get the girls to latch on and pumping became way too stressful for me, so I didn't get the chance with them. I can't wait for everyone that comes to the hospital to actually get to meet our new baby instead of only getting to see her through the glass or on pictures. I'm ready to complain and stress about all the trivial things that new mom's take for granted the first couple weeks. :-P
I'm ready for a break from the 3Gs and I think it will do them good to have a break from me.
I'm ready to start working on getting my body back. I'm ready for my back to not hurt 24/7. I'm ready to be able to stand for more than 10 minutes at a time. I'm ready to have clothes that fit over my belly. I'm ready to be able to roll over in bed without having it become a 1/2 hour event. I'm ready to get my hormones in check so that I can stop fighting with Matt and the kids all day everyday. I'm ready to not feel so frumpy and big.
I'm ready to meet my new princess!!!

I know this post probably doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's more for me than anything.

They really can play together!

pigtails, rocks, and more

I did this to G2 and that is why G3 was putting rocks on herself (May16 post). I do indeed take credit for it. G2 was very patient with me, and sat there until I told her she could get up.
Also on the 12th Ronda mentioned my posting pictures of the girlies in pigtails...here you go. (With other random Pictures from my visits)
I just really like the smiles on their faces here. G3 on the left G2 on the right.

G3

G2

G2 trying to eat the strap on the chair, and Ronda and I thought she looked funny.

I just thought this was a fun picture because it looks like G2 is holding a doll that looks like G3.

Pictures of the 3 Gs playing together. (You can even see my reflection in one of them.)

This is how G2 shares from G3.

Random cuteness:

G2 opened the toothbrush the dentist gave her and started brushing her teeth (all on her own).

G1 wanted me to take a picture of this bird. He took these next two pictures.

"....I....am....not......sleeeepy......."