Coming Soon to a Blog Near You...

I promise, I will update my blog. I am so behind for a number of reasons (I have about 4 very good reasons; plus various other excuses). I have been looking at my blog all winter thinking, "baseball season is long over...should update pictures". Now, unbelievably, we've come full circle and baseball season started again this week. Too bad my kids grow too much each year and the picture still needs to be updated.

Baby Announcement

I hope my rant about people who email/post cards will be forgiven. I'm now guilty of this sin(out of pure, unadulterated laziness). I made the card online and ordered just a few for immediate family...I didn't think I was up to addressing more than that.

Welcome Jackson James Morton

Oh yeah, I had my baby, like 6 crazy weeks ago. Good thing too, huh? Going 7 weeks over my due date would be a big issue.
Here's the scoop for those who haven't listened to me share my baby story. Sadly, I didn't go into labor on my own. On the morning of Friday, February 5, I was having some Braxton-Hicks-like contractions. After dropping of the rest of my crew with a friend, we headed to the hospital. I was supposed to be there at 7, by the time we drove there, got checked in, got dressed, etc; it was probably 8am when they started my Pitocin. As a general rule, I don't like the hospital. I get super stir crazy and bored. A girl can only take so much cable TV. Don't get me wrong, my hospital was great and had a much larger room than I have ever had. Nonetheless, it's not my fav place. So, after they started my Pit, I went for a walk around the labor and delivery unit that I had never toured before. In my previous labors, I have done lots and lots of walking to help baby come (12 hours of labor before). This time, a few rounds of walking had me wanting to go sit in bed. Jake, being my awesome labor coach, wanted to see me up and moving...not sitting...let's get baby here! So instead of sitting in bed, I headed back to my room for a warm shower.
Again, soon the contractions became more than I wanted to do on my own, so I got out and tried to head to bed. Jake continued in his good coaching, and encouraged me to take my contractions standing up. They were coming every two mintues, so I had little time to recover between them. By about 10am, I was miserable...crying, moaning, whining...I didn't want to get my epidural and be confined to bed. Again, usually labor lasts about 12 hours, I didn't want to be stuck in bed for 10. I was only dilated to a 2 when I came in. Nonetheless, I called for the anesthesia. They came quite quickly, though it seemed like forver. The doc was awesome and getting my epidural didn't hurt AT ALL for once. I remember counting the last 4 contractions that I could feel...after that, we checked and I was dilated to an 8. My doc came in and broke my water. Not too long after that, I told my nurse that I felt like pushing. She checked again and said I was at a 9, and called the doctor. As soon as he got there, I started pushing. A few contractions later, at 10:44am, Mr. Jackson James Morton arrived. He was 20 1/2 inches and 7 lbs. 8 oz. He was, and continues to be, a very sweet tempered baby. At birth, of course, he cried. But as soon as the nurse handed him to me and I laid him on my chest and started talking to him; he stopped. He's pretty much been that way ever since...little does he know that at some point, if he wants to get any attention around here, he's going to have to get A LOT louder.

No news is...

No news. Yup, that cute little ticker on the right shows that today I am 40 weeks pregnant. I have had one baby come on their due date (Brooklyn), two come early (Ty and Sadie), and now...it's just a waiting game. I am scheduled to be induced if I don't go into labor before Friday. My doctor doesn't seem to think I will...sigh. It's worked out for the best, I guess, as Ty was nice enough to bring home the stomach flu Monday. So far, just me, Jake and Ty have gotten sick. Just when I was thinking it couldn't get more uncomfortable than being 40 weeks pregnant. I'm hoping I can keep my girls healthy and have this baby on Friday! If they get sick, we'll postpone the induction...and wait. I'm sure sometime two weeks from now, when I'm not getting any sleep, I'll realize being pregnant wasn't so bad (or NOT!). Wish us luck!

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, more than 5 years ago, I used to lament the fact that new moms had little in the way of private time. Often, I would share this frustation with other young, new mothers; and find the same issues. Showers, in this new stage of motherhood, were a rare luxury. After going a day or two without showering (not that it mattered, I wasn't going anywhere) I would resolve myself to allowing time for a short shower. I would tow either the baby monitor (if Brooklyn was sleeping) or the baby herself in a bouncy seat into the bathroom, so that she didn't have a single moment of need. Even at that, I would shower as quickly as possible, as to be able to meet her every demand, immediately. After all, the experts say that it is important to respond quickly to your baby, that will establish trust, and then they will cry less because they trust you to take care of them (ha, ha, those experts).
Five years later, I have learned this: kids cry. They will cry whether or not you respond. In fact, it is possible that too quick of a response will inicit more crying, because they learn that as soon as they make a peep, Mom jumps into action. So, this morning in the shower, I relished in the hot water as I overheard all three of my kids at the door. Whining, talking, asking questions, crying, etc. was all part of it. I did not feel guilty that the door was locked. It did not ruin my shower. I did not feel any pressure to shower more quickly (in fact, knowing what was awaiting me probably made me stay there longer). I figure, when all of them are at the door, at least I know where they are and what they are doing. I would probably be more worried and hurried if I didn't hear any noise outside the door.
Now, of course, this will all change within the next week, as I add a new baby to the mix. I'm certainly not trusting enough of the level of care that his siblings will/will not provide to leave a new baby unsupervised...but I might be able to still lock that door, take the baby inside the bathroom, and enjoy a shower (even if he wimpers or whines a bit). After all, every other second of my life is dedicated to them; a shower isn't much to ask (besides, Brooklyn and Ty are now old enough to tell me that I STINK!)

The Organ Piper

If you live here in Milwaukee, and you have been to The Organ Piper, this is SO Wisconsin. It's a little morbid...but talk about a way to go! (If you haven't been to The Organ Piper, it is a "cultural" experience on par with demolition derbys and the tour of Miller brewery.) It's even family-friendly...it's like Chuckee-Cheese, but less refined. It is the kind of place that you think would be great for the filming of a horror show. Basically, you sit in a huge room and eat pizza; while the organ player plays tunes at the front of the room. He can play about ANYTHING from memory, and all over the room are strange accessories to the organ (drums, dancing bears, wooden ducks, lights, extra pipes, bells, whistles etc.) that are played with the organ.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/82129637.html

Miss Sadie

I haven't posted pictures in a long time. Sorry about all the ranting and raving and serious lack of cute kid pictures. My camera is a bit out of commission. I was just looking for Christmas pictures to post, and apparently, we only got video. Bummer.
Miss Sadie loves the snow. As I get ready for a new baby, it is crazy to see that my "baby" Sadie is a real little girl. She officially graduated this week from 18-month clothes, which is actually a huge step for her. The past few months, she has actually had a bit of a growth spurt, I was just late in pulling out too-small clothes. She can still fit waist-wise, but her pants were capris. She is actually almost as tall as Ty, it's something that oddly snuck up on me and I hadn't realized. Yay!