Christmas in August

Today Finn had his friends from across the street come over to play. When he saw that one of them had his bike, he HAD to have his "green bike". HAD TO HAVE IT! Nevermind that he has only ridden it once since he got it for Christmas, NOW WAS THE TIME! He even had to take it to Grandma and Grandpas house.

He would not take the helmet off all afternoon...not even in the car.

A week in the life...

Savvy at 3 weeks old. This post is going to be short and sweet because she is asleep right now and I am going to jump into bed myself. She has started to sleep about 5 hours at a time at night which we love. Hopefully, it only gets better from here.

Neelah followed Finn around like a little duckling.

The other day at Costco, Eric put these glasses on Neelah and she loved the attention she got from Eric and I, laughing hysterically. She is such a HAM!! Goofy girl.

Savvy

I love it when she smiles in her sleep!


So since we have moved into our new house and don't have the internet or cable set up, I have slacked on my posting. It's funny, I feel like I am doing a dis-service to Savvy for not giving her any airtime! These camera phone pictures will have to do since it is all I have got at the moment. After Sunday we should be back on track with the posting...

2 weeks old

2 weeks old
9 pounds
20 inches long
GORGEOUS

Memories

I love this sort of stuff primarily because sometimes others remember the funniest stuff that I had forgotten! Participate if you have a few minuets!


1. Add a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It should be funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. Please, take the time to leave a comment.

BLISS!!

ERIC IS HOME, ERIC IS HOME, ERIC IS HOME, ERIC IS HOME, ERIC IS HOME, ERIC IS HOME!!

I LOVE MY HUSBAND MORE THAN I EVER KNEW I COULD!

Family...

This last week Grandma Colleen came to visit and meet Savvy. Neelah and Finn love it when she comes because that is one more person to pay attention to them.

Ya-ya has been such a trooper. I can't even begin to list the things she does for me on an hourly basis. With Eric gone, she is absolutely a surrogate parent. Here she is all tuckered out with Savvy after a long day of chasing kids and doing everything else that needed to be done.

I really am so glad my kids get along...that is whenever Finn isn't torturing Neelah to play what he wants to play or trying to wrestle with her. I have caught him a few times laying on her, yelling "I WIN!"

This picture is really what this post is about. Today we got home from our new house and saw that a box had been delivered. Can I tell you how happy this makes Finn??!! He is so excited about new presents. I cut it open and let him pull out the gift. This darling bouncer for Savvy came from Eric's team in Iraq. Seriously people, how nice are they?? Here he is leaving them short a man to come home and take care of me and the kids and they are sending us extravagant gifts!!

THANK YOU TEAM VBA!!
I appreciate you guys more than you know for being so supportive of my husband and I. Thanks for all the hard work you do and the long hours you put in. You're the BEST!!

Change in plans...

P.I.H

No this is not a new STD

Not a new street drug either

Pregnancy Induced Hypertension folks!! Only I got it AFTER I had Savvy.

So last Sunday I was feeling a little crappy...odd since Saturday I felt like I had all sorts of energy and could do anything. I had a headache and my swelling got even worse, (yes I know you are wondering how that is EVEN POSSIBLE!). My wonderful Mom in law came over and was telling me about the symptoms of Hypertension and I had them (headache, swelling, stomach pain, spots in your vision etc.) but I wasn't all that concerned. After she left though, I walked the 400 feet to my new house and found my blood pressure cuff and took my own BP. Even after walking there my BP was only like 125/95. I had been running a little high in the hospital so I wasn't all that concerned.

Monday AM rolls around and my Mom in law Sharlene is back to drop off Amanda to help out with the kids. My headache is worse and apparently I looked like POO cause she takes my BP and it was 168/118! Can we say "lets have a stroke"? So off we go to the hospital. We stop into my Dr's office and he confirms my BP and admits me on the spot.

Let me explain a little. For those of you who don't know (like I didn't) PIH is most often seen DURING pregnancy. It is also more common in 1st pregnancies and in younger women. (I am not considered "younger" anymore in childbearing years since I am almost 30). Usually, if you didn't get it with your first pregnancy, you almost never get it with any subsequent pregnancy.

Not me. I defy the "usuals"

So the treatment is 24 hours of a drug called Magnesium which let me tell you is NOT a walk in the park. I felt like someone had run over me and then backed up to take a look. Chewing the Subway sandwich that my mom got me was too much effort. Also, I saw triple of everything which made holding a conversation with the nursing staff and my Dr very interesting. Then, after they give you the Mag., you also have to take BP meds and if your pressure drops to where they don't think you will stroke out, they let you go home only to be put on bedrest. BEDREST PEOPLE!!

Now I know that it sounds like I am complaining...indeed I would be if not for this one tiny little fact. I got sick enough to warrant ERIC COMING HOME!! I was glad that he made the decision and not me. I wouldn't have ever been able to ask him to come home. I love that he knows what I need without me having to ask. I love that I know that family comes first for him. How reassuring is that???

So for the next 3 weeks I will be spending more time on the couch, taking my BP multiple times a day and trying not to have a stroke. Another good thing about this fiasco is that Magnesium makes everything in your body dilate pretty much. Then you pee out SO MUCH. I went in to the hospital and when I left 25hrs later I was 12lbs lighter!! I joke that I went on the post-partum Magnesium diet to shed my baby weight.

I know that you have all been so concerned so I am happy to report that my ankles have returned to normal and might actually look a little sexy in heels! It is a Christmas Miracle!!

Day 3 in the life of Miss Savvy

This photo above was actually taken the day she was born. She is so peaceful! What a blessing she is in my life, I can't even find the words!

Lets start from the beginning. I know that Mom pretty much gave all the details in her post but I will write up my side of the story...

Tuesday night. I went for a walk. I hadn't had many contractions at all that day and the walk didn't help much except for my cardiovascular health! I come home and call Eric's sister April. We had previously worked out with her that she and her hubby would be the one's we would call in the middle of the night if I had to rush to the hospital. They would come over and sleep here with the kiddies while Mom and I left.

I call her upon arriving back from my walk and tell her that "nothing is going to happen tonight, just go to bed and we'll talk tomorrow." I doddle around the house for a while since I hadn't been sleeping all that well myself. At about midnight I decide to get into bed and read to get myself sleepy. I turn off the lights at about 12:30 and drift into sleep pretty content since this is pretty early for me to be falling asleep lately.

Hmmm....interesting. I feel this pain in my stomach that feels as if Savvy is scratching her fingernail down the front of my bladder. OUCH!!! At that point I was coming out of sleep. Then I hear "POP" and think to myself, did I dream that? I move ever so slightly and realize my water has broken. It is 12:45.

So Mom and April and I get to the hospital at about 2:30AM. I am really not dialated. They send me walking. Come back, still not dialating. More walking. Nada! What is going on here??? At this point, it is about 7am ish and the nurse comes in and tells me that my Dr wants to start me on Pitocin. I tell her that in that case, I want an epidural. No sense in being in pain when who knows how long this could take.

So then we are all hanging out in the delivery room. Mom, Sharlene, April, Alisa, Amanda and Eric's cousin Lindsey. Not to mention the nursing staff ect. So everyone is playing cards and I am helping Amanda with her strategy. The baby was in a wierd position and wasn't descending. I was just sitting there waiting for SOMETHING to happen. I guess that Savvy decided that she had had enough and promptly lodged her foot/feet under my ribs and pretty much dove out. Seriously people. 2 contractions of her feet pushing out and the doctor was there gowning up and the baby was crowning. 7 min later she was born. Eric was on the phone and got to experience about as much as he could being all the way around the world.

Did anyone else notice that she looks just like Neelah did? And Neelah looked exactly like Finn! I have a picture that Mom took of Savvy that is identical to one we have of Finn the day we took him home from the hospital. One of these days I will upload them together so you all can see.

Finn is such a proud big brother. He is eager to help and teach Savvy all sorts of things. Today he wanted to go outside and teach her to ride the scooter. He literally gave me a 5 min dissertation on how he would teach her step by step. I adore it.

Neelah on the other hand is more interested in poking Savvy in the eye. She is going to be a challenge as she gets really jealous already. She tried to commandeer Savvy's pacifier today.

But dang she is CUTE!!

I have 3 kids. It is still strange to me. How can I have enough love for all 3? We are infinitely blessed!

Savannah Ricky Watson is finally here!

At 11:22 am on July 30, 2008 Savannah Ricky Watson made her debut! However, .it took her a while to finally decide to join the party at the hospital with her mom, dad (via phone from Iraq) grandma Sharlene, YaYa, Aunt April, Aunt Alisa, Aunt Amanda and Cousin Lindsey.

She weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. She has dark hair and it looks like it may have a little curl to it like her sister Neelah's does.

Mom and baby are doing well and enjoying each other, as well as the rest of the clan.


Being able to experience the birth of this special spirit was truly amazing. So many things have gone right in Heather and Eric's lives since they found out that they were expecting their third child - with the culmination being that Eric was able to participate in the birth via the phone - when there was some doubt (by YaYa) that we were going to be able to connect on the phone and that the birth was relatively easy for Heather once Savannah decided to get into the correct position (after kicking off Heather's ribs) and the fact that she is a perfect, healthy, beautiful baby.



Finn and Neelah are happy about the addition of their newest sibling. Neelah didn't quite know what to think at first, but eventually got the idea and wanted to love her little sister.


More pictures will follow tomorrow after I (YaYa) have recovered from a no-sleep night and can get some additional pictures. But here is Savvy after her first bath - already searching for her fist.

SAVANNAH HAS ARRIVED

July 30, 2008 at 11: 23 am(I think) Savannah Ricky Watson made her debut. At first, she wasn't in a hurry to get here, even though her mom and dad were anxiously awaiting her arrival. But she finally decided to join her family here on earth. Mom and Baby are doing great.


Savannah weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces, was 19 3/4 inches lng and has dark hair which appears to have the same type of curl that Neelah's hair has - but we may have to wait to confirm that.

I was able to have Eric on the phone when she was born ( he was in Iraq ). It was better than nothing. 2 days after being released from the hospital, I developed post-partum preeclampsia. Back to the hospital I went. Yaya stayed with us and took care of you while I got pumped full of Magnesium. It was horrible!  Eric got to come home though and arrived 4 days after you were born. Our Savvy girl sure does bring joy to our lives!

My Husband

This is the latest from Eric. I actually think this pic was taken a while ago. He is up in a helicopter. Nice hat honey! We miss you!

Pre Bedtime Books

This was one moment today where the kids were self-entertaining and quiet. And when I say one moment, I mean ONE MOMENT! Today has been a day when I KNOW I am insane for having 3 kids.

Deal with it

I do realize that many of you may not want to see this sight...ugly cankles from a fat pregnant woman. Deal with it. My husband is in Iraq and normally he would be the one who I would constantly complain about this too but alas, you all get it instead.

I know that if you saw me in a random store you would point and stare. It's okay, don't be afraid of the massive size of my feet.

The Day Has Come!!

No, not THAT day! I am still pregnant, I am sorry to say. However, the day I am referring to is the day that Eric and I bought our first home!! We closed today and move all our stuff in from the storage unit on Saturday. I just know that I will be in the hospital that day because that is how it works right? You plan something that you have to be to and then BOOM on come the labor pains.

I really am so excited and I think that Eric is too...aren't you honey? It is going to be so nice to have our own space again and I am sure that my mom will appreciate some silence on those days when she has a crappy day at work.

So I have started to prepare Finn for what will happen if Savvy comes in the middle of the night. I told him that if he wakes up and someone else other than me or Ya-Ya are here that it is okay and that he can come visit me in the hospital. The first words out of his mouth this morning were, "where is Savvy?" And then later this afternoon he said that he wanted Aunt April to come over so that Savvy could come out of my tummy. Trying to explain to a 3 year old that I have no control over when I go into labor is a difficult task. Finn did ask Heavenly Father in his prayers today to send baby Savvy out to play with us. Classic. He drives me INSANE but when he says those random things that 3 year olds say, I couldn't love him more!

The end of a beginning...

So it took Finn 5 games to get comfy actually playing soccer. By the end, he was playing the entire game. I can't say that he actually made a goal or really did anything but just run around and sometimes push other kids but at least he was out there. Here are he and Camden the day of their last game. (I willingly admit that I stole these pics from Amy)
Sydney was so the teams biggest fan, wanting to play in all the games. It was great!

"What are we supposed to do NOW?"

Kabren Michael King!

CONGRATULATIONS!!
My best friend just had her 3rd baby this morning. Welcome Kabren Michael King who weighed in at 7lbs 6.4oz and 19.5 inches long!!

I am so excited for you Brinn and Michael and love you so much!!

ps I actually hate you because WHO LOOKS THIS GOOD AFTER HAVING A BABY??? Real women have ankles the size of Alaska and are all puffy after pushing out a little one (see following post). Get with the program!! :)

Reliving the past

Yes folks, these ARE my actual ankles. For the last few weeks I have been telling my friends that I am going to dig up pictures of my feet when I was prego with Finn. Just to show them how bad it could get...don't really need to anymore, I have exhibit A right here. I think that these are pretty much the same as when I was prego with Finn. At this point, I don't know if they can get any worse. Maybe I am jinxing myself by saying that but oh well.

Tomorrow's project: trying to find some shoes that I can wear...seriously!

What are your thoughts?

Is it possible to WILL a child from your womb? Will there be psycological issues in the child if I just sit and think about how much I want her out of me...about how much I would like to have control of my bladder among other things?

On a side note, I am terrified of having 3 kids. Bloody IUD!

On another side note, I can't wait to meet this little girl and kiss her all over.

37 Weeks

For all of you requesting a picture of me in my giant pregnancy clothing, here it is. It completely exhausted me to get ready enough to take a picture that I would post on the blog so I hope you all are pleased. As of my Dr Appt yesterday, nothing is happening. Bah Humbug! Maybe next week...