Abriella Grace has arrived!!!

She was born on June the 6th. 7 lbs 10 oz, 20 inches long. I woke up that morning at 5:00 am having small contractions. They didn't hurt, but I called Shawn at work anyways, just so he knew that there was a possibility that she could be born that day. Most of you know that he drives a semi and is gone 12 hours every day to Indiana. He wasn't sure if he should go ahead and come home or not, but I told him to just do his job because I wasn't having any pain, and it could take all day.

He stopped and prayed after we got off of the phone and asked God to have me call him right back if she was to be born that day. I was doing dishes at that exact moment and felt like I should call Shawn, so he knew that God had given him an answer and he should come straight home. It's a good thing he did, because she was born at 12:55 pm and he would have been 4 hours away at that time.

We were supposed to be released on the 7th, but Ella had high bili levels and had to spend the night in the Special Care nursery. She looked so pitiful in that isolete with those 'sunglasses' on. I could only take her out once every 2 hours to nurse her. Luckily, the next morning we were able to be released and she went to her pediatrician this morning and was declared 'perfect'. (of course, I already knew she was perfect, LOL).

She went to her first baseball game today. (Don't try walking through a little league ballpark in a small town with a 3 day old baby... everyone that knows you, and many that don't, will stop you, wanting to see her, LOL... But, since most new parents love showing their baby off, it was okay, LOL) She slept through the whole thing and I was so nervous. She was in my arms and everytime someone yelled 'HEADS UP' I would lean over her to block her and Shawn would stand over the two of us to make sure that nothing hit her. With little league, balls go wild all the time. At one point I got up to run to the car to grab something, and as soon as I was a few feet away, a wild ball hit my chair! I cannot believe how close it was. I told Shawn that we need to get her a tiny, pink batting helmet, LOL. Instead, I think I may watch the games from the comfort of the van from now on.

The boys both love Ella soo much. Cody is constantly rubbing her head (he says that her hair is silky) and Deuce just wants to keep rocking her. When she started crying earlier today, Deuce started acting like a court jester to try to make her stop, LOL. I think it crushed him that she won't respond to that yet.

I need to go pick up the living room a bit. Someone from church is delivering dinner to us tonight (I am becoming quite spoiled by that, LOL.... dinners are being delivered every night through Thursday) and I hate that the house is sooooooo messy. One friend that came over to baby-sit the boys while Shawn and I took Ella to the Dr. this morning did my dishes and another friend offered to come and do my laundry on Tuesday (I can't bring myself to accept that, LOL). I've been feeling great (I bounce back quickly after giving birth) and feel guilty by accepting the help that others are offering. But it has all been such a great blessing. One friend in particular watched my boys 2 days in a row this week and ran me home from the hospital on Friday (our minivan broke down this week- Shawn is fixing it now- the timing really stunk!). She also organized all of the meals from people at church. Her husband is helping Shawn with the van and I am thanking God for such good friends. I don't know what I would've done this week without her.

Wel, now to attack the living room. I'll post a link to her hospital photos when they go up on the web.

Aspie moments....

First of all, no baby yet. That's all I can say about that at this point, LOL.

Deuce has had a couple of really 'aspie-ish' days. *sigh* It's strange, because I just picked up a copy of 'The Elephant in the Playroom' the other day and was reading it. As I read the essay about Deuce, I thought about how far he has come. When I wrote that essay, we couldn't go into a store without him becoming stressed, he would spin all of the time and he was OBSESSED with Star Wars and ancient Egypt. Now, he looks so normal most days. People at church say that they can't tell a difference between him and the other boys his age. He still has his quirks, but he is able to handle life better and can keep most of his quirks at home, LOL.

Then yesterday, I made a mistake. I, without warning, changed our shedule for the day completely. I woke up and decided to clean off some bookshelves and clean out a closet. I figured that I could take these boxes of books to Half Price books (and take the college texts that I am done with to a used textbook store) and sell them. I should've known to at least give him 30 minutes to adjust to the idea, but no, I was in a hurry and yelled up the stairs for him to get his shoes on so we could go. Not smart at all.

The rest of the day, he was on edge. Luckily, there was no meltdown or anything, but he was touching everything around him in an obsessive manner, he kept pulling out his eyelashes and he kept talking on and on about Star Wars. Then, I didn't have any melatonin in the house (when he has a bad day, he sometimes needs help to sleep) and so he couldn't fall asleep. I went upstairs at midnight to find him in the middle of his bedroom floor, building. He had used EVERY 'normal' building item (blocks, Brio set, lincoln logs, legos, K'nex, etc...) and still felt the need to build, so he got out every video tape in his entertainment center and had started building towers with them. *UGH*. He was doing this until 2 in the morning, before he finally just crashed.

Today, he had this *need* to read. We went to the library and he picked out (and has already read) 16 books today. As much as it freaks me out to see him obsessing, it could be worse. I mean, at least reading is a good activity, right? Plus, it helps him in the summer reading program at the library. We have to go back tomorrow so he can get some more books.
I do hope tomorrow is better. At least he's asleep right now (it's only 10:30- not bad for him). Hopefully. he'll stay asleep for the entire night. Sleep helps, ya know?

Summer School...

Deuce asked me if he gets a 'summer vacation' like his friends in public school. Ummmm, no, lol. Poor child. But honestly, we do such a relaxed version of 'school' (I am so against mimicking 'public-school-at-home) that I know it won't hurt him to continue lessons over the summer. Heck, if we didn't, I'm afraid Deuce would lie around complaning of boredom all summer.

So our plan is to continue with math (his favorite) and I also got a ton of books on pioneer living, the founding of our country and other early american history. I am taking them to the library this next week to join up with the summer reading program, and we'll try to get out to the local metroparks for some science activities (depending on how I am doing after having Ella). Deuce also said that he wants to work even harder on his spelling (last year, after watching the spelling bee, he decided it's his goal to try to make it to the national bee.... he still has this same goal a year later, LOL).

None of this will be 'too much', as it is all stuff that Deuce has requested, yet it'll keep him learning all summer long. I hate the thought of his brain turning to mush, you know? I need to see if Hands of a Child has a really good lapbook for american history. Both boys love doing lapbooks, and this way Cody can be included in everything. Cody wants his own math book now... I tested him a few days ago and found that he would be considered halfway through the first grade math curriculum that I used for Deuce. That shocked Shawn, as he said that it's so hard to believe how much the kids learn without a 'real school schedule'. I'm just happy to know that the kids are learning, LOL. Although, we still need to take care of Deuces standardied testing. I'm ordering that this week and hoping that he does well again this year.

So, anybody else have any plans for schooling during the summer?

A picture of Deuce playing baseball....

This is what occupies 2-3 (if you include practice) nights a week for us right now. Deuce loves, loves, loves baseball. I am so thrilled that he likes it. I am hoping to work with him on pitching over the next year (he's in coach pitch this year and won't be in 'player-pitch' until he 9)... I'd love to see him play the same position that I used to play. No matter what, though, I'm just glad that he enjoys the sport and has something to keep him outside and off of the couch all summer, LOL.

Tonight he had a good game. It wasn't his personal best, as far as hitting is concerned, but our team did win. We have another game tomorrow and I'm hoping that they do well (they are warmed up, after playing until 9 o'clock tonight, lol).

Now to go clean my living room. I have been having some decent contractions tonight, so maybe Ella will decide to grace us with her appearence. Of course, I was told by another baseball mom tonight that I am not allowed to go into labor until after tomorrows game.... we'll see. I'll take it whenever I can get it, LOL.

The things we do to try to go into labor...

I have been trying my hardest to coax Abriella out, as I am now 5 days past my due date. I have walked more than I have ever walked in my life, I have used the br*astpump (I got Cody to come out quite easily with this method), I have, ummm, had my hubby help, and I have eaten some VERY spicy food. Nothing is working. I have asked for suggestions from others (feel free to give advice at this point, LOL) and had one person tell me to 'use reverse psychology and stand on my head'. Well, even if it doesn't bring the baby out, it'd be good for a laugh, right? And I do love a good laugh. So, here's the picture.




Think it'll work??? :-)