Casen James Thompson - Jan. 9th, 2009, Friday

Waiting all day, Thursday, Jan. 8th, for a phone call from the Women's Center to be induced. Finally around 5:30 PM , they called and said to

"Come on up." So they started me on an antibiotic and pitocin around 7:00 PM and broke my water around 9:00 PM. And I did not have Casen until 1:59 AM , Friday morning, January 9th. So my labor was about 7 hours. I did get my epidrual, which was a good thing because Casen's head was posterior which means his head was down but his face was up, and his face is suppose to be down. So my DR. said that because he was posterior, it prolonged my labor by about 2 hours. So the Dr. had to turn his head while I was pushing and I just kept thinking "If I did not have an epidural, I would have been miserable." This laobr and pushing was a little bit harder than my others, I think because he was posterior. I was so tired and starving that I had no energy to push. But my recovery has been GREAT! My mom and Matt were there the whole labor. My sisters Em and Becca came to the hospital about 10:30 PM and Matt's mom and sister came up about 11:30 PM. So I was feeling bad that everyone had to stick around SO LATE! I do not think I got to bed until 6:00 AM the next morning. And my mom left around 4:30 AM. And my sister Steph, was at my house, right by her phone, babysitting all the kids! I love my family. My mom and my sisters really did alot for me while I was gone. They watched my kids, played with my kids and cleaned my house! I love them and could not have done this without them! I LOVE FAMILY! They are such a blessing to have. I did miss my dad and Mike. Wish they could have been here too.

My kids came up the next day and they were so cute and excited. I think they missed me more than they wanted to see their brother. No they were excited! They each got to hold him and I think Corey has changed her mind about wanting a SISTER! They both love him and are great babysitters! Steph's family came up to the hospital the next day and got to see through the waiting room window.

I am so in love with my precious little boy. Oh yeah, he was 20 1/2 inches long and 7 lbs. 5 oz. I think out of all my kids, he was the least beat up. I have really been enjoying him and I am not busy working from home, like I was with my other 2 kids. S0 I have really been able to enjoy the "newborn" experience. I love babies and I want like 5 more, but physically my body says only 1 more!

1 week before Casen was born - Grandma Christy & My Family Has Arrived- Jan. 2009

So my mom arrived a whole week before Baby Casen was born. I was getting stressed because everyone was planning around me and I was not progressing. I went to the Dr. and had not progressed the whole week my mom was here and I was vacumming, mopping, putting Christmas decorations away up and down the stairs, running errands, and keeping up with my other 2 kids. And still NO PROGRESS! So I asked to be induced. So. Jan. 8th I was induced and had Casen Jan. 9th, Friday. But before Casen entered this world, here are a few pics of some of the fun things we did. My sisters came up to hang out. Cade helped mom make some treats. Dad took the kids snowmobiling and Auntie Steph and the cousins went sledding. My kids were exhausted every night while the cousins were here and my sisters and mom helped hold down the fort while I was at the hospital. SO ready to have this baby, but also getting a little nervous, like I always do! The kids are eager too. Hope all goes well!

Christmas Day Fun!

Christmas Morning was a lot of fun! My kids were so happy and so grateful for all the fun stuff they got. I did not hear any crying or complaining and it was quite peaceful; every Christmas morning that parents hope for! I was trying so hard to make it till Christmas and not have the baby! I was feeling pretty lousy, but I made it. My kids were quite worried they would have to have Christmas with just dad. And things might not get done right, if mom was not there. But I made it and the kids were thrilled. My kids slept in till about 8:30 which was nice. Then we did the whole presents thing till about 10:00. Then we had some yummy breakfast, grandma and grandpa came over for a bit. Then poor daddy, had to go shovel snow at the apartments for an hour or so, while we played new Christmas board games. Then we got ready to go over to Nanny's house for dinner and a few more presents. We had fun there, stayed till about 6:00 or so and then came back home. We were followed by family and the Wii! My brother-in-law got the Wii for Chrismtas and they played it non-stop all weekend. Wow! I do not know if I want one of those at my house. My kids actually loved it. Corey is awesome at the tennis game and Matt was loving it too! So we had a good day and a fun weekend. I was pretty tired each night and ready to crash, but I just love the Christmas season and I don't want it to end. My Christmas decorations might just stay up till Jan. 10th or so. And I am still listening to Christmas music. I am really holding on to this holiday season!

Now we just wait for baby #3. I have had a few good days and a few bad days. I hate this waiting period. A few times, I thought "this is it" and then I feel better and hour or so later. So now it is just Dr. appts. and guessing and trying to time my mom's flight here. It will be kinda tricky. I am still about 2.5 weeks out from my due date, but I really do not want to go that long. Wish me luck! Hope you all had a great holiday season too. We will keep you posted!

Seasonal Fun!!

So I love this time of year. I love all the smells, the music, the stories, the treats, the school, church and neighborhood activities and just the SPIRIT in general. I always feel like I am uplifted at this time of year. I am loving all that, but feeling a little bloated and Huge! I just went to the DR. yesterday and I am 36 weeks and already dialating. So I am trying to hold out until after Christmas and just take it easy! Can you imagine having a baby on Christmas Eve or Christmas and having to be in the hospital for Christmas. My kids would be devastated. I told them we would have to write a letter to Santa and tell him not to deliver the gifts until Mommy got home. And the poor baby would have the crappiest day for a birthday. Well special because it is the day Christ was born, but not fun for a birthday!
But aside feeling ready to pop, I am trying to enjoy the season. I think my favorite part it 7:00 PM and on, after we have eaten and everyone is starting to settle down for the night and all the inside lights are on. I just love it. I never want December to be over. I think I kind of go into a depression in January, just sad that it is all over and only a cold, snowy winter to look forward too. Then I just crave spring! And the warmth.
But we have been busy. We had Cade's preschool program the other day. He was so cute and more shy than he is at home. They just had to introduce themselves and the whole class sang a bunch of songs. It is so fun to see him learning and excited about school. He was scared when he wasn't sure what he was actually performing, but once he got there, he was fine! We also went to Corey's program the other day and they sang a bunch of songs too. She just loves school and is bummed that today is her last day for another 2-3 weeks or so. She doesn't want a break. Crazy Girl!
I also got to go to Corey' s class for gingerbread house day. It was fun and I figured it would be the last time I get to help in her class for a bit. She was so proud to have me there, even though I am popping at the seems and look awful! I swear I look better in the mirror, when I leave, but pictures are just awful of me now!
And Corey had a fun Christmas dance party at her dance class. They got to dress up in red, green and white and eat junkfood and decorate pics and show their talents. She loved it and so did her cousins and friends!
My sister Em was here a week or so ago and she tried to build a snowman with the kids. My kids got tired of building the first 5 minute and us CA. girls were lost. I was trying not to help too much and take it easy,but she was wanting me to go look on the Internet for "How to Build a Snowman." I think it was just the wrong kind of snow! We really struggled. It kinda looks like a prego snowman or as Corey said "a snowman sitting down." We were proud of it, but it took us forever and a bunch of tries. They had fun! And we couldn't stop laughing. How hard could it be, we were thinking when we got started!
But I love this time of year and hope you are enjoying it too! Take care and remember who we are celebrating this time of year and how special he is.

Cute Little Girls

Corey, her friend, and cousins, all got these cute little dance tutus and they wore them to dance yesterday. We thought they looked so cute! Girls are so fun to dress-up. Having only 1 little girl to dress-up right now, is really fun and it is my passion to find cute clothes. I love clothes, especially little girl clothes.
News about my pregnancy..... I am 34 weeks today and still doing OK! Really uncomfortable, and ready to have the baby, but I want to make it past Christmas. Christmas I will be 37 weeks. So anytime after that. I want my mom to be able to come to Utah too and that might make it hard, during the holidays. So just pray and hope I make it past Christmas!

Thanksgiving Weekend was actually really relaxing. We kind of had a smaller group this year, which made it not so hectic, but then I had to entertain my kids, because there were not so many other kids around. My sisters came up to visit Monday thru Wednesday and we serioulsy just relaxed and enjoyed each others' company. We did go and see Twilight. We LOVED IT! I had to pay Corey $2 to come with me. She was not feeling well so I could not send her to the basketball game with Matt. She went in her PJ's and brought a blanket and she actually got into the movie. It was funny! I only had to hide her wyes on one of the parts. We also went to breakfast Wednesday morning. (Hence the gorgeous pics of us). We have not gone to breakfast in forever. It was WAY GOOD! We went to a fun birthday party Wednesday night, at Chuckee Cheese. Wow that place was crowded. We were not the only ones with the COOL IDEA! Thanksgiving was relaxing. Dinner at noon and the DALLAS GAME at 2:00 PM and then just relaxing. We also had a Utah State Aggie Game that weekend. So it was a nice weekend. I am sure Christmas will get a little more hectic. We are having a few of our family parties at our house this year. Hopefully it will go smooth. We also attempted to take a family picture for our Christmas card this year, but I look so "FLUFFY" in all my pics that I was not HAPPY with the pics. We might try one more time and if I am not satisfied, I might just use a pic from earlier in the year, or just try and get a cute one of the kids.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and thought of the many things that we are blessed with this time of year! We were sure feeling Grateful!