Baby Kate

We have been a busy family over the past 4 weeks. Brynn started preschool and is loving it. We took a tour of the school and she got to see her classroom and meet one of her teachers. Then when the big day came she was so excited to go to school. In fact when I dropped her off I gave her a hug and kiss goodbye and she said "bye mom" and went off to play with the toys. Didn't even bat an eye that I was leaving. I can't say I didn't choke up and tear up. My little girl is growin up and part of me had a hard time accepting that. She was ok without her mom. Which in the long run I'm thankful for becuase I'd rather have a well adjusted child to start off with, then a child who is clingy and cannot bear to have their mother leave them. She had so much fun her first day. When I asked her what she did during preschool she said "I had snacks mom." Ok that's great, I'm paying for you to have snacks at preschool, but what else did you learn. Her teachers are really great about sending out an e-mail about what they did during the 3hrs they're there. So I'm not spending a lot of money for her to enjoy snack time. Getting her up, ready, myself ready and my other 2 kids, and have Brynn at school by 8:30 is quite a challenge some mornings. I'm not looking forward to those mornings when I have to do it 5 days a week!
We are happy to announce that baby girl #3 has arrived. Kate Elizabeth was born September 6 at 9:43 am 6lb 1oz, 20in. Healthy and beautiful in every way. Now waiting for her big day was a little irritating. She was just too nice and comfortable to grace us with her presence. But after 3 nights of contractions off and on, dropping our kids off at a friends house at 2:30am, driving to the hospital to have the contractions stop just to be sent home. Finally when the day came I knew she would be here. thank goodness for Tom's mom who was here to help. And that we didn't have to call on someone to come over while we trecked to the hospital at 3am on Tuesday morning.

It's a good thing you forget just how painful those contractions are. Becuase I don't think I would be having many children. Plus thankgoodness for modern medicine. I couldn't handle being in labor for 7hours w/contractions 1-4min apart. But the delivery went well. We arrived at the hospital at 3am, I got my epidural at 4:30am, the doctor broke my water around 7:30-8 and we had a new baby girl at 9:43am. By far the best delivery I've had yet. I could handle having small babies because my recovery was great. Adjusting to a new baby has been interesting. Brynn loves taking care of her little sister. Trying to sooth her when she's fussy, holding her, singing to her. Helping mom in any way she can. In fact She came in the kitchen yesterday and said to Tom "look dad" He looked down and noticed she was holding Kate in her arms being the "big helper." when just the other day Ava did the same thing. I grabbed the mail and put it on the table when i hear her jibber jabber.  Look over and she's got kate by the clothes dragging her towards me with an enormous grin on her face. I about lost it. Kate literally looked like a dead animal that Ava was carrying over to me.  Thankgoodness she didn't drop her becuase our whole house is hard wood. So she has two big sisters that love her.

Many changes

I've realized how lazy I've been at updating our blog. But it takes making the time, plus downloading pics. Mostly its just plain laziness. So, to update on what has been happening over the last 4mo.,lots of changes. I've been done w/work since beginning of June. I really miss all of the people I've come to work closely with on the surgical floor back in Montana. Many hours of laughs, stress, tears, late nights spent together. Tom finished work the middle of June, packed up the rest of our belongings, met me in Idaho, spent a couple of days there w/family. then moved across the country (again) for more stress, less hair/gray hair, having had an income to no income, seeing my husband for 2hrs before he returns back to school to study. Cleveland will be our home for 2yrs. Tom decided to specialize in the endodontic program here at Case Western Reserve. We're still getting used to the city and having to drive at least 30min. just to get anywhere. Pittsburgh was like that also, but it had everything you needed in one location. Here its just the opposite. Which I find very frustrating, but not much you can do about it but deal with it. I do love it back here though...with all the trees, old buildings, history, greenery, the lightning bugs, (not the humidity). Many changes have been happening all at once, and I have found it more difficult to adjust.

From working part time as a nurse to working full time as a stay at home has been challenging. Prayer has been more a part of my day, more often than before. Patience, well I'm still learning....everyday. I have come to appreciate my own mother for what she did for me as a difficult, demanding child.

Brynn turned 3 in April and loves anything princess. Pink is her favorite color, she loves playing, coloring, reading books w/mom, being independent, playing w/Ava and her new little friend next door, riding her bike, playing dress up, laughing, putting on make-up, helping me clean/mop, watching "dego" (diego), feeding Ava, and learning new and exciting things. Ava turned 1 in May. She has become my little tom-boy. She loves climbing...on everything, running/being chased, putting anything and everything in her mouth, copying her sister/playing w/her big sis, getting dirty, getting into everything she can (including the toilet), smiling w/her 8 front teeth, laughing. Now with only 3 weeks till our new little girl greets us, we only add more change. Many times I think Heavenly Father must have known I could handle the 16mo. difference between Ava and this one. But I also think how crazy I was that I felt ready to start trying for another little spirit to bless our home. Oh, either I'll learn to be patient, or go crazy in the process. I hope and pray the first.