This week...

Kara's Baby Blessing

We had a great weekend with my parents in town. Our family is truely blessed with wonderful extended family that is very loving and supportive of us. We just couldn't do without their examples, help, and advice!
Kara's blessing went great on Sunday. She started to cry, but then I heard she just stared at Larry for the rest of the blessing. We've got a wonderful baby girl. She is just over one month old and we are so happy to have her in our family.

Kara's Baby Blessing

This Sunday, the 12th, we will be blessing Kara. Beforehand, we will have lunch at our house (soup, salad, rolls, dessert) for anyone interested in coming. My parents will be visiting from Logan that weekend as well.
We would LOVE to have friends and family there.

The lunch get-together begins at 11, and church is at 1 pm.

Kara will be wearing the gown and bonnet that I made her.

Kara's Dreaming...and Other Stuff

I always think it is so funny how little babies make faces while they sleep. I was doing something on the computer while holding Kara and she started making some adorable faces, so I grabbed the video camera and took this footage.

In other news, Derek is compiling a list of things to buy. He wrote it out, and has decided to type it on the computer now. It is up to 93 things. Derek also made an "awesome ship with Star Wars Legos". The only way Larry convinced him to dismantle it, was to take pictures so that he could recreate it later.

Miranda is as goofy as ever. She painted a bunch of pictures the other day and did a puppet show for me. She is surviving soccer, but I think she'll be glad when it's over after this week.

Spencer loves to hum the Star Wars song (Derek says it's the 'Imperial March'). Derek is commenting as I write, by the way. He is enjoying his preschool. They are learning about fire safety. He told me that he has to "dig under the fire" to get out of the house. When I asked him how you shovel through carpet he seemed a little confused, though.

Lindsey is so funny these days. She is talking a lot more, although some of her favorite words are "mine! and NO!!" She also finally learned how to open her door (apparently Derek taught her this- as he just informed me). So, we had to put a childproof door thing on her door so she will stay in at bedtime.

I am doing much much better these days. I'm a little sleep deprived, but Kara is generally good at night and content when she's awake. Since I've been off my headache medicine, she is awake more. I am really enjoying having a nonpregnant body again! It is so nice to wear normal clothes and have a waist again.

Kara had a frenoctomy last Monday to cut the tissue that connects under her tongue. It was a quick snip, a minute of crying, and she was done. I was hoping it would improve her nursing, but it hasn't helped much at all. I am afraid she is not getting enough at feedings due to her poor latch, so she is having another weight check on Friday. I may have to pump or suppliment. We shall see. She is definatly my worst nursing baby- but so cute. Kara has also genuinely smiled at me a couple times in the past week. She is adorable. I think she'll be a little darker than the other kids and may have blue or hazel eyes.

Larry is going full speed with coaching. Soccer ends this week, and waterpolo in a couple weeks. He has really enjoyed it.

More Pictures

Now that we're back to normal life, and I am feeling almost completely recovered, here are some pictures of Kara...

Only Half-drugged

Well, things seem to be slowly getting better with me. I'm functioning on less medication and needing to rest less.
I had an interesting morning today. With Larry working out and then going straight to work, I had to get all the kids ready by myself this morning. After getting Miranda and Derek out the door by 8:10, I quickly got myself and Spencer ready and dressed- out the door at 8:20 and to Spencer's preschool. Luckily, Kara slept through all of that. When I got back, I had 30 minutes to feed and dress Kara and Lindsey before seeing the doctor. Immediatly after seeing the doctor, I picked up Lindsey, drove home, and waited at the bus stop for Derek. (11:15) The bus was late, so I had to have a friend pick up Spencer from his preschool at 11:30. I finally breathed a sigh of relief after the kids ate lunch and I was able to feed little Kara again.
I feel like all I can do is get the kids dressed, fed, and off to their various destinations. Forget about housework, laundry, or a rest! I usually do all the laundry on Mondays, but since it is already 1:30, I think we'll have to wait til tomorrow! I think it's going to take a while to figure out how to take care of everyone and manage the chaos/housework.

Update

I am feeling much better than before, but I've had continuing headaches that I can barely manage with the drugs I have. It has been very frustrating to feel great for a short time in the morning, and then need to lay down to ease the headaches! It seems like the blood patch mostly worked, but I am still feeling some of the neck/base of the head pain again. The medication is making me feel a little dizzy and sleepy, so that is also a pain. I just wish it would go away! I want to feel like myself again! I see my doctor on Monday, so maybe he will have some suggestions.

In the meantime, Lindsey is getting to watch Blue's Clues, which she loves. Kara continues to thrive and sleep a lot. Nursing is going really well. Derek has written a list of over 100 things for Spencer to buy with his money. (I guess he has given up on actually earning money himself). Larry is slowly fitting in some workouts and some waterpolo practices.