She's Crying Again???

Life has been, shall we say, an adjustment the last two weeks. Thank God that it seems to get better everyday! We ventured out to the grocery store on Saturday and you would think we were first time parents. Mark was a little overwhelmed with both our children pushing mini-carts in the store and me paying attention to the baby and I had my overwhelming moment when I went to church with all three kids yesterday. Wow, three is a lot when you have two other children demanding your attention. Molly and Katie have been so good at adjusting, but it is obvious how much time they need with me since Mandy has been born. Both girls have been dealing with it in different ways. Katie has been clingy and wants to cuddle a lot and Molly has been withdrawn and staying out of things for the most part. She also gets very uptight when Mandy cries. We have been very blessed with friends and family that have gone out of their way to help with meals, laundry, cleaning and taking Katie for a playdate, it has made life so much easier. However, I am ready to start my life again on the normal path. Whatever "normal" is. Today I am going to the doctor and hopefully she will give me the okay to start driving again. That will be a huge relief for us! At least I can shop!!!! Which is a great way to relieve stress I have to say, but not too good on the pocket book.

Wow Already Two Weeks

It is hard to believe that Mandy is turning two weeks tomorrow! She hasn't changed much yet. Her schedule is adjusting. She is now eating at 1 am and the last two nights she hasn't gotten up until 5 or 5:30 am for her next feeding. So we are stretching it out and I am starting to get a little more sleep. Mandy went to her doctor's appointment today and she is growing well. She is now 9 pounds 5 oz. and apparently nursing is not a problem. She is gaining and growing. Makes mommy feel better. We also, after 2 weeks found a bottle that seems to work for her at night and she is resting better after her night time feedings. Also this week, Mandy had her first sponge bath at home and didn't like it at all! You would think I was torturing her. But she did love the cuddling after. We are all enjoying her...but infants are exhausting I am fastly remembering. Katie adores her and constantly says she loves her little sister. Molly thinks she is so cute, but stays away when she cries. I don't think she is as convinced as Katie yet. Over all, the Thibaults are starting to settle in a little more everyday and by next week I think we will adjust that much more. These times do fly...I have to remember that.

SHE'S FINALLY HERE!!!

On October 13th, 2007, Amanda Grace Thibault came into our lives. She weighed 8 pounds 10 oz., 21 1/2inches and apparently she was too big for mommy to deliver. She is very different than her sisters, she was in no rush to come out in this crazy world. After a crazy, long labor, we gave up and had to have a c-section. She came out with a beautiful shaped head and was crying and all pink! Mommy was given general anesthetic so she didn't see her first come out, but, Daddy had a moment all to himself to watch the Red Wing game with her and cuddle with a bottle. We have been so blessed!

ANY DAY NOW??? HMM, WE'LL SEE!

Yesterday I went to my routine doctor's appointment. And as most of you know, I have been having the worlds longest labor. I am now up to almost 4 weeks of contractions at least 10 minutes apart if not closer. Up until now, they have done nothing to change my cervix or make me closer to labor. Very frustrating and exhausting. Needless to say, yesterday I told the doctor that if he told me I was still dilated to 1 1/2 I would scream. Luckily for him and the office he triumphantly told me I was dilated to a 3 1/2! Yeah! Finally! All these crazy contractions weren't for nothing! He then told me it could be a matter of days before I had Mandy. Hmmm, I have heard that before. I mean wasn't it my doctor that told me, "oh Jen, don't worry about the size of the baby, you won't go past 37 weeks anyway," or "don't bother making an appointment more than to the end of September because you'll have to cancel it anyway," or even, "yep, you're at 1 1/2 and have been to the hospital twice pre-term, should be any day, we got you to 37 weeks!" Well, I am not too convinced when a doctor tells me, "any day now!" Once again, God has shown me how it is in His time not anyone elses! I am glad she is full term but, boy, I sure am welcoming labor now. Looks like all of you that guessed 38 or 39 weeks are in the running, but let's not rule out those funny people who claim I will go 40 weeks! Only time will tell. Week 38 people, you have today and Friday. 39 weeks starts Saturday. Sorry all of you nice people that lovingly thought I would go at 37 weeks!

Ahhh, Life is Good!

Katie loves to get her picture taken. Whenever she sees a camera out, she has to jump in front of it. Yesterday, my mom bought me a new digital camera. It was the exact one I wanted and she told me..."you realize this is Mandy's camera," because Mandy has everything so my mom got us a camera instead. Of course Katie overheard this and when I was explaining to Mark where the camera came from, Katie piped in the middle of conversation and said, "no mommy, you silly, it's Amanda's camera!" Boy nothing gets past her!

She's Not a Baby Anymore!

With labor fast approaching, I have remembered all of my labors and the anticipation of meeting your child for the first time. I have been especially been looking back at my pregnancy with Molly and all of the thoughts and worries I had with her. I expected her to be so different, but yet, the same as she is. It's funny how your initial ideas of their personality are changed and forgotten so quickly and acceptance of who they are overtakes any preconceived notions. Molly is not my baby by any means. She is concerned for me and my health. Every groan of every contraction I do not hide from her there is a show of concern on her little 7 1/2 year old face, which follows with, "Mommy is that baby pushing on your privates???" At that moment, I realize she is not as naive as I think she is. Then of course I wonder, where in the world did she hear that and what is her idea of pregnancy and birth? It is such a guessing game of just how much information you should give her. You don't want to give her too much because she may get worried, but not too little because she may get the wrong idea and worry about that. Hmmm, parenting isn't all that easy once they grow and get their own ideas and mind. It is very neat to watch your baby girl start growing into an empathetic little girl that is getting closer to joining the women's club.