Gone Fishing

The Easter Bunny was so nice this year and decided to bring Gracey and Emily each a new fishing pole.  There is a pond on the golf course that the girls like to go to for an "adventure" every now and then. They also had heard that it was stocked with fish. Ever since they'd heard that they have been begging to catch something.

Easter evening, we (all 5 of us) piled into the golf cart and we head over with nothing more than the fishing poles, the little tackle box that came with the pole, and a pair of needle nose pliers for the "just in case."

It didn't take long before the fish were biting.  Unfortunately for Gracey though, Emily was the only one to successfully catch not one, but two fish.  Both fish were able to be put back in the water safely.

Corky has never been much of a fisherman, and I haven't done much of it either since moving away from home after high school, but we managed to help our girls figure it all out.  We had a great time doing it too.

I do not know why I was compelled to bend so far over in this picture,
but in case you are curious, Emily is saying, "Word!!"

The golf course is so beautiful this time of year and the weather is just as great.  I predict lots of evenings will be spent down at the pond.

2 month well check

Janie had her 2 month check up last Thursday, and her stats came as no surprise.  

Weight: 12 lb 8 oz (90%)

Height:  23.75 inches (90%)

She also had to get 3 shots....she was pissed!  Simple as that.

2 months old - How is that possible?

Today marks Doug's...errr....Janie's 2 months mark.  It has gone by so incredibly fast and I have to say, the transition has been very smooth.  She has made it easy.

Before she was born, Corky and I were preparing ourselves for a fussy baby.  We thought there was no way, after having Gracey and Emily be pretty good babies, that we would be lucky enough to have a third.  Would you believe me if I said she is our easiest baby so far?   She pretty much goes with our family's busy flow, and from day one, only fusses when she she is hungry or needing a new diaper.

 Yes, that is how all babies are, I get that.  But rarely does Janie get so wound up that as soon as one of those needs gets taken care of, she doesn't go back to her happy and smiling self.

She is really beginning to recognize certain voices and faces.  Just yesterday I was dropping Emily off at school.  I set the car seat down in the classroom while Em's teacher and a few students came over to say hi to Janie.  There were 3 people in Janie's face, but as soon as Emily went over there and began talking, Janie cranked her head right around to see her and started grinning ear to ear.  She knew Em well and it melted my heart.  She loves both of her sisters very much, and they love her.

Some exciting things that have happened for our little person - Just tonight she gave us her first bit of giggles.  I was holding her in my arms and giving her a good bounce while at the same time making loud laughing noises.  She was all smiles to begin with, but then would react with a little laugh after each bounce.  We captured it with the video camera and it is so precious.  

Even more exciting than that is what a great sleeper Janie is.  She has been consistently sleeping 8+ hours a night for more than 2 weeks.  She gave me a few full nights before, but they were sporadic.  Even then I wasn't complaining too bad, she only would wake up one time at night.  It seemed as soon as we got back from our trip to Utah, and she was able to sleep in her own room again, she has slept like a log.  I usually nurse her between 9:30-10:30ish at night, then she wakes up again as I am sending Gracey off to school at about 7:30, sometimes a little sooner.  Gracey loves it when she wakes up in time to play for a minute.  Janie almost always wakes up happy and not too frantic to nurse right away, as long as Gracey is making funny faces at her.

We sure do love her.  She has been a true joy for us all.  Other than it taking a little more preparation to get out the door with a newborn, and me being less productive because I get caught up in lots of snuggles throughout the day, she has been a very natural adjustment to our family.

I wish time could just stand still.

Flying West - with extra baggage!

After having my mom be in town for 9 days after Janie was born, I was really sad to see her go.  As this picture shows our goodbyes, I was not the only one!

I was suddenly missing my family in St. George more than usual.  Corky, being a loving and supportive husband, said, "Let's ride this train of emotion and book some flights for Spring Break.  Hurry, before the cheapskate in you talks yourself out of it!"  I had been so weepy and emotional, and hyper-sensitive to the fact that babies grow up so darn fast, that I thought it was a great idea.  I really wanted to meet my new nephew Brooks and I wanted my family to meet Janie before she got any bigger!   I know each stage of a baby is oh-so-precious and special, but there is something about that brand-new-baby stage that you have to actually feel and snuggle in your arms to understand.

So we booked our flight and hopped on a jet plane.

As we walked down the terminal, I could hear peoples sighs of relief as we continued walking past their gate.  Once we got to our gate and waited, it was very noticeable that people were looking at our family of 5, including a newborn, and hoping we wouldn't be a disruption on their precious flight.

On Allegiant Air, unless you pay extra, it is open seating.  We always choose to go cheap and just do open seating, especially since having passengers under 12 years old we get the luxury of boarding first.  So we board the plane, me and the girls on the row with 3 seats, and Corky on the row with 2.  I passed Janie off to him to be held for a few minutes and she was quite the passenger repellent.  Finally a guy sat next to Corky because it was truly the last seat on the aircraft.  Luckily this guys was cool and was excited for his own daughter to be born soon.

I must say, all three of my kids were a dream.  My older girls watched a movie on the ipod, played with a couple of small toys, and took turns sitting by the window.  Janie was beyond well behaved.  She didn't sleep at all but was awake and alert the entire time.  After I nursed her during take off, all she wanted to do was stare at the lights.  Passengers around us I think eased up a bit when they realized how sweet her little personality was. Some grandmas were making googly eyes at her, another lady stated how she missed her sons being young, and a group of bachelors (heading to Las Vegas for a bachelor party) told us twice, that our kids are the best behaved kids they've ever seen.

This proud mom sure was relieved when it was all over, but I don't know that it could have gone any smoother.

One funny thing though.  As we were coming off the airplane, the tone of the passengers completely changed.  Those who were waiting to board the plane for the next flight were full "Oh how cute!" and "What a sweet little baby!"  I would bet a million dollars that they only could honestly say that because we weren't on their flight!  Even the people on our own flight didn't even look us in the eye until the flight was all said and done and our girls were behaved, then it was all smiles!


Some people.

The Staff

I wish I had a picture and names of the entire staff that helped me while I stayed at the hospital.  I can't say enough about what a pleasant experience it was.  Sure, the discomfort of my abdomen being sliced open sort of sucked, but as far as being taken care of by others, I definitely was. 

My night nurse was the best!  She was so so so sweet.  She would leave me alone and let me rest if I needed that, or come in my room to help me with the slightest thing.  She would take Janie for a couple of hours if I requested some more sleep, then bring her back to me when it was time to nurse. There was another night nurse on shift that was great too.  She wasn't assigned to me but she would still come in and visit with me, encourage me when I slowly walked the halls, and made me feel like I was actually fun to be around, and not temporary cripple that I actually was.  I know all nurses are SUPPOSED to be kind and helpful, but mine really were.

Here is one of my nurses helping the girls listen to Janie's heartbeat.  She was very patient as the girls kept wanting to hear.

My doctor, Dr. Soheai.  She was great.  Some say she is overly cautious but I like overly cautious.  It is way better than being not cautious enough.  About half way through my pregnancy, I went to her with a long list of concerns.  Literally, a page long list of handwritten notes that I wanted to talk to her about.  I was ready to take my business else where if my questions weren't answered in a way that made me feel comfortable.  Of course, plenty of my concerns were due to my mad paranoia that I was experiencing at that time, but she really put my mind at ease. 

I am so glad that I stayed put.  I don't think I could have handpicked a better staff to have been a part of, and made my experience as good as it was.  From the receptionist at the front desk of my doctor visits, to the medical assistants that weighed me each time.  From the radiology technician that did my weekly ultrasounds that happens to be a close friend of ours from church, to the surgeon that assisted Dr. Soheai, who also happens to go to church with us (and is married to the radiology tech that I just mentioned). From the nurse anesthetist that was so careful and precise with my spinal block, to the O.R. techs that helped me relax before the operation.... I am so grateful. 

Living in such a small town and delivering in such a small hospital, there naturally were concerns.  However, having faith in the abilities of the professionals that took care of me proved to be the best decision this time around.

Date Night - Interrupted Already

February 11. 2012.

Our hospital has a nice little tradition for the new parents, providing a "Dinner for Two Date Night."

Corky and I got to choose from a special menu and were served dinner on a nicely decorated table.  Just as we were about to enjoy a nice (still hospital food) meal together, Janie started piping up.   

And so begins the trend already.  Taking turns holding the babe while the other hurry and scarfs down the food. Then trading so the other parent can eat. 

"Teach Me How to Dougie"

When I was about 4 months pregnant or so, and I was feeling Janie start to move, I would joke often with the older girls that she was doing a dance in there.  Corky heard the song "Teach Me How to Dougie" one day, and joked that she was in fact, doing the "dougie."  From that moment on, the baby that was in my belly (which we didn't know whether it was a boy or girl yet) was called Dougie.  Even after knowing full well, another daughter would be joining us, she was still "Dougie."

It is fitting since Corky has given Gracey and Emily each a boy nickname.

Gracey - Gary


Emily - Ernie

and now we have,

Janie - Dougie

Janie is nearly a month old, and to be honest, is rarely called by her given name.  For the most part, she is still called Dougie.

This picture is so fuzzy because, as you can only imagine, Corky, Gracey, and Emily started doing "The Dougie" while holding our own little Dougie.  I wish I had the picture from the other angle but I could only move so much (or not at all) in my hospital bed.

Don't know what I am talking about as I refer to "The Dougie"?  Watch this.  And forgive me if it is stuck in your head for the next 3 weeks!

Meeting their new sister

As expected, Gracey and Emily were so incredibly excited to be able to meet their new baby sister.  They came to the hospital around lunchtime and I could tell they had been trying to be patient all morning long. The image of them walking into my hospital room for the first time is burned in my brain in the happiest of ways.  Neither seemed nervous or afraid, and both did not hesitate when it was their turn to hold Janie.  Pictures speak much better than my words do in this case, so here are a bunch of pictures of those first precious moments.

This picture below might be my favorite of the day.  Gracey and Emily were in their own little world together and completely in awe of their new baby sis.

Before leaving the hospital that day, Gracey and Emily decorated the room with some hand drawn pictures for Janie.  They were sure to not forget her little crib.

February 10, 2012

The morning started out like any other....

Just kidding, mostly.

Like almost every other morning for the past 6 months or so, I have been awakened at about 3:45am, for no other reason than I had pregnancy insomnia.  I would be wide awake and annoyed.  This morning though, I had good reason to have too much going through my head to sleep.  My alarm was set to wake me up at 4:30am anyway, and since I had been up every hour since midnight, I decided that 3:45am would just be my final time.

Corky and I were set to be at the hospital at 5:30am, to prepare for an 8:00am c-section.  We had been anticipating this for a long time and were just way too excited to sleep I guess.

Since I was awake, I figured I would get a head start by putting on my compression stockings,  putting on one of my 3 rotating outfits, and even curling my hair.

Before we headed out the door, Corky gave me a wonderful blessing of comfort and strength then snapped one last picture, in bad lighting, of me being VERY pregnant.

Everything went very smooth at the hospital.  I was loving the nurses that admitted me and was sad that they would be getting off work before my surgery.  The mood was relaxed and comfortable as we joked and talked about everything from the baby, to exercising, to all the places we have lived.

Finally it was time to head downstairs to the operating room.  Before leaving though, the nurse brought in some nasty drink I had to take.  She warned me that it would be bad but I honestly wasn't anticipating just how bad.  It was so bitter and awful!  I wish I could remember the name of it.  It was SO BAD.  Awful. Awful. Awful!  The nurse anesthetist came and introduced herself, asked me some questions about my previous spinal block, then said she would meet me downstairs to get me all numbed up.  I was still pretty comfortable.

We got into the O.R. and they started working on my spinal block.  It took a long time to do because the CRNA wanted to take it real slow to get it just right since my spinal block caused a slight headache 5 years ago.  I really appreciated the caution and care that I was being shown.  I can't say enough about how nice everyone was.  Corky wasn't allowed in the room at that point and so all the assistants stepped up to be supportive and encouraging while I was having to be uncomfortably hunched over for as long as I was.  As soon as the spinal worked, I felt some serious electrical surges go down my right leg and I knew they got the right spot.  I kind of started freaking out.  Not in a scared way, more like "Oh my gosh, it worked!  Finally!  Good job!"  I asked them if they gave me some good medicine or if i was feeling pure adrenaline because I felt so incredibly good all of the sudden.  Turns out, it was just adrenaline. (I am a dork!)

So they lay me down, strap me in, and start prepping for the surgery.  As soon as I laid down, I immediately felt a little queasy.  I was able to give some warning about me feeling sick and they brought a pan over.  I turned my head and puked up that nasty, bitter stuff that I had to drink 20 minutes earlier.  They said that was normal, especially after receiving a spinal block.  The blood pressure tends to drop quickly, causing people to feel like that.  I just happened to barf because of it, but man, did I feel better after that.

I was good and numb and they brought Corky in.  I knew it wouldn't be long before our little girl would be here.   The mood was so good.  I was emotional, but so incredibly happy.  For about the millionth time during the pregnancy, my thoughts went to how I never thought I would be experiencing this again and how grateful I was.  Life was so good.  All of my anxieties that I was anticipating to have were gone and I felt my mind was very clear.  I truly believe that my mind being so clear was such a blessing.  You see, we were able to video tape Gracey and Emily being born and I love having those to look back on.  I feel that even though I had little to do with the actual delivery of my children, I can look back and really be a part of it.  A few months ago when I was informed that no video cameras were allowed in operating room of this hospital, or the Mercy Hospital Franchise whatsoever, I was really upset.  (read: sobbing at the doctor's office!)  I am so incredibly grateful for how aware I was of everything that was going on.

8:41am, we hear a baby crying and Corky tells me that she is here!  There were happy cheers from the O.R. techs and at first glance we knew that Janie was perfect.  Corky left my side to be with Janie at the baby station until he could bring her over to me and let me kiss on her before they had to leave the room and I could be put back together.

When they left and I became more aware of people tugging on my body, I realized how uncomfortable I became.  I felt like my doctors were pushing my insides up to my chest and it was very painful. Try to understand this.  I couldn't feel the pain of my organs all being exposed, but I felt the pressure of everything and it was hurting real bad.  The mood in the room tensed and I asked what going on.  My CRNA leaned down and said quietly that I was hemorrhaging more than anticipated and they were having a hard time getting my uterus to contract.  It seemed about a minute later that things started to relax a bit and I knew it was all under control.  That is when I asked for some medicine to help me take a nap while they finished up.  I started to feel really good again and I do remember telling everyone how nice they were....and that is when it all goes a little blurry.

When they were all finished up, I woke up, or at least became aware again.  The nurses and the doctors were joking with me that I was a fun patient.  I asked if I had slept and was told that I didn't do any sleeping, just a lot of talking.  They laughed they told me that Corky had warned them that when I get anesthesia, I become quite the talker.  Thankfully for all of them (and myself) I am a happy talker.

After spending some time in the recovery unit, I was finally able to go back up to my room where Corky and Janie were waiting for me.  Just like with our other 2 kids, Corky got to have some daddy/daughter time for a while before I was able to be with them.  I think he really has liked that part.  The nurses left us alone for a long time so we could spend some time alone with Janie.  I loved it. I loved everything about that day.

We were so happy to have Janie finally be with us.  Our years of trying, waiting, and hoping to add to our family, and the struggles and trials that came with it all, were forgotten in those moments.  We are so blessed!

Janie Joyce Whipple

Born at 8:41am

Weight: 7 lb. 11 oz.

Height: 21 inches

Danny - Biggest Loser Season 8 Winner

Last week my friend posted on her Facebook page that she was looking forward to listening to Danny Cahill, the winner of The Biggest Loser - Season 8, would be speaking at the high school that night.  I immediately text her for more details because I knew exactly who she was talking about.  Season 8 happens to be one of my favorite seasons!  It also had Abby, Shay, Rudy.

Turns out, he was speaking at the high school, which is less than a mile away from our home, it was open to the public, and children were welcome.

Corky got home just in time to for us to all go over together and we had a good time.  It was fun to see video clips of his season and fun to hear him address our tiny community.

It was exactly what I was expecting it to be.  He was motivating, funny, kind, and quite talented.  He played a few songs for us and had a little meet and greet after.  The event was put on by the hospital and health center here in town, just in time for this town's own "biggest loser" contest begins.  I asked Corky if I could sign up NOW because in the coming months, I have about 40+ pounds to lose.  I guess my kind of weight gain disqualifies me.

Danny noticed my mid section weight problem and we had a good laugh at how quickly I am guaranteed to lose about 12 pounds (baby + water).  He talked with the girls about their new siblings and was very personable.

It was fun to see how motivating it was for so many people there.  I hope in the next few months, the community's motivation will help me get back into my fitness routine.

Kansas Sunset

I used to think that amazing sunsets only happen in the desert.  I am happy to say that I was wrong.  They do not last nearly as long, but we definitely get beautiful sunsets here in "green country."

(Green Country is actually considered Northeast Oklahoma, but we are proudly bundled right into that since we are right on the border.)

She had a pokey belly button

When Emily was less than a year old, we noticed that her outie belly button was a little more "outie" than we thought maybe was normal.  At one of her doctor visits I brought it up and was told she had umbilical hernia.  I was assured that it didn't hurt her and that it would most likely go away by the time she was 5 years old.  If it didn't go away by that point, it probably wouldn't on it's own and that would be the point to look into getting it fixed up.

4 years later, we were still poking at her belly button for entertainment.  With all the medical expenses from last year that all four of us accumulated (seizure (Emily), broken finger (Gracey), esophageal ulcer (Morgan), and basal cell carcinoma removal...skin cancer (Corky), we definitely met our deductible.  Luckily, our deductible carries on for a couple of more weeks, so we decided to have Emily's belly button taken care.

The night before the surgery I snapped a few photos of her belly button.  I was feeling all emotional because my child would be having surgery (a minor one, I know) and that belly that we have been loving on for 5 years would be different the next day.  Thankfully Emily kept the mood very light by not taking a serious picture AT ALL!  This seems to be a recurring theme with Emily and pictures lately.  I loved all the pictures that I took.  It shows her goofiness in her personality and in her choice of outfits when given the freedom on a Sunday afternoon!

Before the surgery they gave her some motrin with versed.  It relaxed her and definitely made her a little silly.

I am so glad I had my iPhone with me so I could record her behavior.  I was laughing so hard that my mascara was running, and maybe the nurses thought Corky and I were mean by having such a good time with it all, but oh well.  We were cracking up!





The surgery went perfectly and I was able to go to the recovery section and be with Em while she started waking up.  As expected her tummy was pretty sore for the first couple of days, but nearly 2 weeks later and she feeling good!  Her incision is still healing, and she thinks that looks pretty creep, but it is definitely better.  Her tummy looks so grown up now, all nice and flat.

On a different note, but sort of the same, Gracey got an earache the night before Em's surgery.  I decided to keep her home and so that is why she was at the hospital with us.  At that point she only had an earache.  Just as we were leaving the hospital to take Emily home, she got herself a fever and was feeling pretty yucky.  I had two sickies to take care of.  We were all so exhausted!!!  At the end of the day though, I was glad that it all happened at once with the two of them being laid up together.  It would have been an even longer week if they had taken turns.

Too bad though that while we had to keep to our selves, the rest of the town enjoyed the most gorgeous weather.  That night I set up the camp chairs outside with some blankets, and the girls and I enjoyed the sunset and nice weather.

"I STILL HAVE 2 WEEKS LEFT!"

That is exactly what I said to the ultrasound technician when I was 37 weeks and 5 days along!  (I am now 39 weeks along!)

I drove to Wichita on January 26th to see the specialist and have another ultrasound.  They measured her to be 8 lbs. 1 oz.  I about choked on my own saliva!

I knew that she had a growth spurt at the beginning of my 3rd trimester, but I thought it had tapered off.

My doctor asked me the typical questions and told me all the things that they had checked me for that day had looked good.  His words were, "And obviously the in-utero growth is going well!"

This picture is of me that afternoon.  Thank goodness for self-timers.

At my ultrasound last week, we didn't measure her growth again since it was only a bio-physical appointment.  (checking breathing, movement, amniotic fluid)  I asked a technician that is also a good friend of ours if there was a margin of error with those ultra sound measurements.

Tech: "Oh yes, there is about a 15 oz. margin of error!"

Me: "Okay, then she is more like 7 lbs!"

Tech: "Or 9 lbs!"

Whoa!!  Way to make me feel better!

In all honesty, I don't think she will be a ginormous baby.  Of course I feel uncomfortable and certainly constricted, I just can't really fathom a human being inside of me being that big.  Maybe it is because I haven't had a baby in a long time, I don't know.  At the very most, my prediction is that she will be in the low 8 lbs.

We will see soon enough.