Presents!

Micah is spoiled with many things.  The latest presents were hand-made by my cousin Patty, who lives in North Carolina with her family.  Patty makes these cute felt animals as a way of raising money toward their next adoption.  Please vist http://www.etsy.com/shop/PGrotberg (her Etsy shop) to see more of her creations! 

3 months old!

Micah is 3 months old today!

He gives out smiles quite easily and continues to be such a sweet, good-natured baby.  I am so in love with this little guy.

I am still not sure what color his eyes are going to be.  They aren't really blue like the girls or really brown like Caelan's eyes.  Maybe they will be green like mine?

Micah has slept through the night on a few occasions, but it is never consistent.  He usually wakes once (sometime around 4am) to eat and goes back to sleep quickly.  He is currently wearing size 6 month clothes, but I have no idea how much he weighs.  It is so different this time around....with the other kids I had them weighed almost every week!  We still don't have any kind of nap routine.  He would like to nap during the times I am dropping off or picking up the big kids from school, so he does a lot of sleeping in the Baby Bjorn.

Still wishing time would slow down....

Bumbo

I just think this photo is cute.  He was sitting up in his Bumbo chair for the first time this week.  He got tired pretty quickly, but still thought it was fun.  :)

Halloween

As a Christian parent, I really struggle with the idea of celebrating Halloween.  I know the kids only think of dressing up and getting candy, but I also know there is a very dark, spiritual side to this "holiday".  I try to make it a celebration of the Fall season as much as possible.  My kids know they are not allowed to dress up as witches, vampires or any other scary being and our decorations consist only of pumpkins.  It is supposed to be such a fun time for kids and I want them to continue thinking of it that way.  I don't talk about the scary side of Halloween, but my little ones find their own fear.  Caelan refused to go to any house that had any scary music or unfriendly decorations, or to people dressed up in strange costumes.  He was up three times in the night after trick'or'treating because he was having scary dreams.  I don't think a celebration that is meant to be fun for kids should end in nightmares.  That is just my opinion!  Enough of that....here are my adorable kids dressed up in their favorite costumes.

Bedtime reading

Last night, Shaylah decided she would like to read a story to Micah.  It was so sweet!  :)

6 weeks old!

My baby is already 6 weeks old!  I am wishing time would slow down, as he is changing and growing so much. 

His eyes are open much more frequently these days, but he still sleeps the majority of each day.  His night feeds are at 11:00pm, 3:00am and 7:00am pretty consistently.  We still don't have any kind of routine during the day...we just go with the flow.  I am hoping to get a napping routine going soon.  He is just moving into size 1 diapers and out of his newborn clothes.  He continues to be so easy to care for and is loved by all!

First day of school (a little late)

Shaylah started grade one this year.  She is in a grade 1/2 split, with only 7 grade ones.  They seemed to have put the kids that can already read and write into this class.  She is still with her best friend though (Bronwen) and is so happy to be back at school.

Ashlyn and Caelan are also in a split class (Kindergarten/grade 1) and have the same teacher that Shaylah had last year.  I requested that they keep them together, since they are such good friends with each other.  I think they would be devastated if they were put into different classrooms.  Caelan's best friends are in his class, but Ashlyn's pre-school friends were all put into the other Kindergarten class.  She doesn't seem to mind the separation though and is already making new friends.  They are thriving in the all day class and love school too!  Hooray for a great public education system.  :)

one month old!

I just realized this week that I have started referring to Micah's age in months, rather than days or weeks.  I am so sad about that and wish that time would slow down!  I am savoring every moment with this sweet baby.

He continues to be so easy to take care of.  He cries when he is hungry and is generally fuss free the rest of the time.  He loves to be held and falls asleep instantly when I put him in the Baby Bjorn.  He also amazes me in the fact that he never spits up.  The other three kids threw-up all the time, but this little guy can wear the same sleeper for days without having to be changed.

He seems to continuously have a "goopy" right eye.  I have to wipe it with a cloth a few times each day to keep it clean.  I am hoping that gets better soon!

His biggest sister absolutely adores him.  Shaylah is constantly giving him kisses and asking to hold him.  She checks on him the moment she wakes up and wants him close to her all day long.  I am so glad she loves him so much.

Micah John Black

Micah is now 10 days old and is still a sweet, laid-back baby.  He sleeps most of the day and goes 4-5 hours at night before needing to be fed.  He was weighed this afternoon and is now 3760 grams (8 pounds, 5 ounces), which is up from his birth weight.  Hooray for feeding well and not throwing up!  He has beautiful blue eyes and is reminding me of Shaylah each day.  Here are a few pictures of our amazing new family of six!

 

 

It's a boy!

I am so in love!  Our newest little boy was born yesterday at 8:24am, weighing in at 8 pounds, 2 ounces and he is as perfect as can be.  He is feeding well and is totally happy and content.  We have still not picked a name, but Johnny has been lovingly referring to him as PC (short for President's Choice no name brand).  He has lots of dark hair, but looks very different from each of the other three kids.  Pictures will be posted once we get home from the hospital!

One more sleep

Well actually, I don't think I will sleep much tonight.  We get to meet our new little one tomorrow!  I am nervous and excited all at the same time and so thankful that we made it this far.  Tomorrow's gestation will be one day short of 38 weeks and only a few days before Shaylah's gestational age at birth.  She weighed in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces....so I am guessing this little one will be close in size.  I have officially gained 35 pounds, which is the most of any of my pregnancies.  I give total credit to doing nothing but eating and lying in bed for 2 months straight!  I have been having lots of random contractions this past week that are fairly intense, but nothing regular.  My feet swell every night and my pelvis clunks every time turn over in bed.  I think my body is ready!  Our surgery is at 7:45am, so all prayers for safety and a quick recovery are greatly appreciated.  It is a much different experience knowing the exact day and time your baby will be born...I must admit I prefer the excitement of the unknown better.  Johnny and I plan on cherishing our few days in the hospital alone with this baby before coming home to the chaos (which will also be fun) and look forward to seeing the looks on the kid's faces when they see the baby for the first time.  Next post:  pictures and details of baby Black #4!

34 weeks

This baby is continuing to grow and I feel huge (in a good way)! I am finally able to leave the house for periods of time and walk short distances. It feels good to slowly start helping with the kids and eat sitting up. I also had my very last visit by the nurse at home today. I am hitting the uncomfortable stage of pregnancy...feet starting to swell, difficulty sleeping, lots of heartburn, SI joint pain, waddling, fatigue...but I am so thankful to be this far along. Looks like this baby is happy being inside for a little longer. The kids enjoy trying to help me stand up from sitting by pulling on my arms. They think it is pretty funny. They also know to give me extra time because I move really slowly these days. We have been spending hours in the back yard while the kids swim in the inflatable pool, which is great because I don't have to go very far. We are very much missing spending time at the cabin though. Hopefully we can get down to the beach after the baby arrives. We do not have a c-section date yet, but it will likely be in about 3 weeks. Not long now!! I have not prepared anything for the baby yet. Such a fourth baby! Everything is sill in the basement and needs to be hauled out and cleaned. We haven't even decided where the baby will sleep yet or picked out a name. Name suggestions are definitely welcome because we need help. :)

Big Question

As I was leaving Ashlyn's room last night after putting her to bed, she stopped me with a very important question...."Mom, if there is only one God, how can He be everywhere at the same time?". How do you explain omnipresence to a 4 year old? I did my best and she seemed satisfied. Looking forward to the next question about our amazing Creator. :)

Shaylah's update

Shaylah had a wonderful Kindergarten year at our local school. Many of her friends from her pre-school were in her class, so the transition was so easy. She adored her teacher and did very well!

Shaylah is a very social, kind hearted and happy girl. She is such a mix of both of our personalities and it is fun to watch her grow. She is highly emotional and giggles a lot like her mom; she loves to be the centre of attention and is very intelligent like her dad. She started reading full sentences before her fifth birthday and is now into reading chapter books (favorites include Geronimo Stilton and Rainbow Fairy books).

This year Shaylah has enjoyed team sports, playing both soccer and t-ball; She has lost 4 teeth already, with a fifth hanging on by threads; She currently wears size 7/8 clothes and size 1 shoes, weighing 57 pounds; she loves to wear dresses and skirts, but really isn't picky about her clothes; she is quick to learn her Bible memory verses for Sunday School each week; she LOVES candy and all kinds of sweets, but hates eating dinner. Shaylah has been her Mama's big helper while I have been on bedrest, bringing me food and filling my water bottle. She snuggles with me each morning and prays with me each night. She is so excited to have a new baby and I already know what a fantastic big sister she will be to the new little one!

Frustrated

I am frustrated. It is so hard to do anything. I ate breakfast with the kids this morning and had to spend the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon sleeping because of it. I knew I would be tired, but even I am surprised at how tired I am. I want to be part of my family's lives again, but am still unable. My loving husband keeps reminding me that it will take time, but I am impatient. I have been waiting 2 months for this! This will just have to be another one of those life experiences that will make me a better physiotherapist when I return to work. :)

32 weeks

I made it! 32 weeks and still counting :). This was my doctor's big goal for me and I am thrilled. My appointment today was very encouraging. I am now allowed to get out of bed and I don't need any more ultrasounds!! My plan for this evening is to eat a meal with my family for the first time in 2 months (it's the little things, right?) I am hoping to be able to lighten the load for Johnny a little bit, but I am also realistic on what I will be able to do. I am very de-conditioned and get so tired with the smallest amount of activity. I do hope that this will gradually improve over the next few weeks before baby arrives so that I can actually care for the little one myself. I think my family will be glad to have me back...even if it is only part of each day. Final words from Dr. R. today..."32 weeks is great, but 36 is better". :) On another note, Johnny and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary yesterday. In romantic fashion, he called up to me on my bed from the dinner table with the kids. So sweet. Haha! We should have waited one extra day to celebrate.

Last day of pre-school (plus update)

Best Friends!

Caelan has really enjoyed pre-school this year, which is a big deal because last year he always told me that he didn't like school. He has learned how to write his name and do some simple math, grown some plants from seed and perfected his painting skills. Caelan mostly just plays with his sister and her friends, but I am glad that he loves her so much. He is shy and has a hard time separating from his family in group situations, but he is becoming more confident and is really the one that is the most out-going within the house. He loves to laugh and make jokes, loves to gives hugs and loves to be tickled. His teachers describe him as very caring to the other children, often giving compliments to others and comforting them when they are sad. Caelan's favorite word is "super", but he also loves to yell "boring" when he doesn't want to do something. Caelan is currently 40 pounds and wears size 5 clothing. He loves the color blue, hates riding his bike, loves swimming and goes to bed easily at the end of the day. Caelan has said that all he wants to be when he grows up is a Dad. We are so proud of you Dudey!

Ashlyn has always loved school, but she has developed such a confidence this year that is amazing. She has a best friend at school(that is not her brother), knows how to write her name and has really progressed in her drawing skills. Her favorite things to draw are people, butterflies and flowers. She loves to dance and wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. She still loves pink, loves to ride her bike, loves to eat fruit and vegetables and has finally grown out of her Dora obsession. Ashlyn currently weighs 34 pounds and wears size 5. She is the same height as her brother, but is very thin. She is devastated that she still has to ride in a full car seat, while her brother and sister are big enough to ride in booster seats. We have loved watching her grow and develop into such a confident girl. We love you Ashlyn!

Ashlyn's hair cut

Ashlyn decided a few weeks ago that it would be a good idea to give herself a hair cut.  Her beautiful long blonde locks were cut into a stylish mullet, which she was very proud of.

 Mommy wasn't too happy.  :(

Here is her final haircut.  She was thrilled to have such short hair (which totally shocked me)!  Once the bangs grow to be all one length, I think we will keep the style.  She told me she hopes it never grows, plus we are no longer fighting the hairbrush each morning.

31 weeks

Tomorrow I will officially be 31 weeks pregnant. That means I have been on strict bed rest for 7 weeks now (with another 2 weeks of modified bed rest). Phew! This is hard work! I am so deconditioned these days that I need a nap after a quick 5 minute shower. My desire is so strong to get up and walk around, but I realize as soon as I stand up that I don't have any energy and must return to bed immediately. It is exhausting doing nothing! I am worried about what will happen after the birth of this baby. I know I will be quite debilitated, especially since I will likely have a c-section and will have 3 other kids at home on summer holidays. It will not be easy. It is kind of funny to me that I am working so hard at not going into early labor, only to plan a surgery to remove the baby from my body when it is ready. I am not allowed to labor due to a previous vertical incision on my uterus. Hopefully my body will co-operate this time! I had another ultrasound this afternoon due to the heart conduction issues the baby has been having. Baby is growing well, with an estimated weight of 1800 grams. My cervix is still closed and holding at around 1.5 cm. Everything looked healthy again today, which we are so thankful for. Baby is sitting very low in the pelvis this week, but hanging in there! There is a huge developmental milestone at 32 weeks, so I am looking forward to passing that next goal. I continue to get NSTs done every week with the home care nurses and am being very compliant with my doctors orders...doing everything possible to have a term baby! Only God knows the exact date of this baby's birth and I am confident in His plan for this little one.

28 weeks and counting

We passed a huge developmental milestone this week for baby....28 weeks! Next stop, 32 weeks. I have no doubt I will make it there. In fact, I feel like I will even make it to full term! The baby had another echocardiogram this week due to more skipped beats and a rate of only 80bpm. Once again, I was told that the heart anatomy is beautiful and it is likely a conduction problem that the baby will grow out of. Baby's heart will be monitored weekly to make sure the rate doesn't drop below 60 or above 180. The baby continues to grow well, with an estimated weight of 1500 grams this week, or the 95th percentile. My cervix has remained stable since I have been horizontal for the past month, so I am to continue with strict bed rest for the next 4-6 weeks. I did get special permission to attend Ashlyn and Caelan's pre-school graduation party at the end the month, as long as I am sitting while I am there and go straight home. So thankful I don't have to miss that one!

I am certainly learning a lesson about giving up control and letting other people help. I have witnessed my youngest daughter go to school with her pajamas on under her clothes and cut her own hair short while being allowed to play with scissors unsupervised. My oldest daughter seems to cry a lot more and has become very clingy to me at bedtime. My son blissfully carries on without a care in the world, but does not want to listen to Daddy's instructions. Johnny has been amazing at keeping the household running. He is still working full-time, but has managed to take me back and forth to the hospital, get the kids to all their sporting events, keep everyone clean and fed, keep the house tidy and the laundry done. He is super-dad in my mind. The only thing he can't seem to find time to do is sleep!

We received a great gift of a Molly Maid cleaning from my friends at work, so I am looking forward to giving Johnny a break from cleaning....at least for a week. We have also been blessed with meals for the family and child care for the kids from our friends, family and neighbors. All have been greatly appreciated. Next ultrasound is in two weeks. Until then, I will continue to stay in bed!

Status Quo

I keep getting questions about how I am doing, since I haven't updated in a while. I am happy to report that there is nothing to update! We had a bit of excitement last week when the ante-partum nurse noticed some skipped beats with the baby's heartbeat. Three NST's and a fetal echocardiogram later, all has been reported normal. Apparently this baby just has an immature conduction system, which is totally appropriate for a 27 week old fetus. I was not worried, but the nurses were quick to respond and made sure I had it checked out. I remain at home and in bed. Actually I get very fatigued just walking down the stairs for my home-care appointments twice each week. My fitness level is now down to nothing. I guess that's what happens when you spend a significant portion of a month lying around! Thank you to everyone who has dropped off food and helped to look after the kids. Your support has been amazing!

Home, sweet home

I was finally released from the hospital yesterday afternoon, following much begging on my part. I had a repeat ultrasound on Tuesday that showed no change to my cervix. It continues to hold at 1.3cm. The baby is a great size and was measured at just over 1100 grams. Perfect size for 26 weeks! It was kind of fitting to be discharged yesterday.....the same gestational age as the birth of our twins. So happy to have passed that milestone. I had the most amazing sleep in my own bed last night, considering I haven't had a good sleep since last Friday, and am so happy to be home. I am now on strict orders to behave and stay in bed. The research isn't great regarding the benefits of bed rest, but it is the only option they have to offer at this point. I definitely feel the pressure if I am on my feet more than a few minutes, so I am hoping that bed rest will work in my case!

Weekend away

When I thought forward to this upcoming long weekend, I had imagined a nice weekend away from home to relax and catch up on family time. At least I got part of my wish! On Saturday I came into the hospital for a check by the doctor (on the advice of my home-care nurse). A check turned into an overnight stay for steroid shots 24 hours apart and monitoring. Next thing I know, the 24 hour stay has now turned into a few nights stay....all expenses paid on this relaxing long weekend getaway! I am feeling fine, but they are worried that my cervix is continuing to shorten. Hospital monitored bed rest is one way to keep me off my feet. I guess they thought I was cheating a bit too much at home (and maybe I was). Johnny is quickly learning what it is like to be a single parent, poor guy. Shaylah seems to miss me the most though and cries every time I talk to her on the phone. The kids wil come visit me tomorrow morning and hopefully she will feel better. It is nice to get to hear the baby's heartbeat twice each day, but I would rather be at home with my family!

Latest ultrasound

Today I had another ultrasound of our little one and my cervix. I will start with the good news. Baby is looking great and right on target for size at 25+1 weeks gestation. Hooray! The bad news is that my cervix is continuing to shorten. The measurement today was 1.3cm with some funneling. Not good at all. My wonderful doctor has now told me that all activity is to be stopped. I am allowed to get up to go to the bathroom, but nothing else. I had been still able to help with the kids, but as of today we are going to need to hire outside help. I am told that if I can make to 28 weeks, I can start to do a bit more, but for the next three weeks I need to be "in bed with my feet in the air" (as quoted by Dr. R). I will miss Shaylah's first ever Sports Day tomorrow, which I am feeling very sad about, as well as countless other activities that come with the end of the school season. So 3 weeks of complete bed rest are in my immediate future for the sake of this little baby who is loved so much already. Next ultrasound in 2 weeks!

The plan

I finally have a plan in place. I am to see my OB/GYN every 2 weeks, with bi-weekly ultrasounds on the off weeks. I am to continue resting as much as possible and am not allowed to do much around the house. I am taking Prometrium to hopefully slow down the cervical shortening and I will also have an antepartum home-care nurse monitor me in the house for contractions and fetal movement each week. We hope that this will be enough! If my cervix continues to shorten, the plan will have to change, but we are hoping to at least make it until 32 weeks. I also learned today that mothers going into pre-term labour can be given magnesium, which they have newly discovered protects the child fom cerebral palsy. They don't know how it works yet, but it has shown statistical significance in recent studies. I think that is pretty cool! The twins received steroids for their lung development, but not magnesium. Both these meds have to be given when birth is imminent, so hopefully I won't be needing them for several more weeks. Glucose screening test tomorrow. I have never had issues with my blood sugars, so hopefully that will continue!

Pregnancy complications

It has been awhile since I have posted! Life with three little ones seems to be too busy for blogging. But life has all of a sudden forced me to slow down. Bed rest. It is something people often dream about. Lying in bed, having people do all your work, serve you, take care of you, while you relax and enjoy life. Sounds great, doesn't it? Maybe for a day or two. Let me tell you that it is no fun. I spent 12 excruciating long days on bed rest in the hospital just before the twins were born and I am trying to avoid having to do that again. The trouble is that my body is behaving just as it did when I was pregnant with them. They call it cervical insufficiency. Basically my cervix can't handle the weight of a growing baby, which causes it to thin (and possibly dilate) before the baby is ready. Ashlyn and Caelan were born at 26 weeks (or exactly 6 months) gestation and had to spend the next 4 months in an incubator before I could take them home. I am currently at 24 weeks with this baby and am more than 50% effaced. My last ultrasound showed my cervix at 18mm, where it was 35mm a few weeks before. I am officially on modified bed rest and not allowed to work, lift anything, do much of anything. The kids are struggling with not understanding why Mommy can't help them with everything and Mommy is struggling with guilt when she has to keep telling them "I can't". Daddy has been amazing at filling in the gaps though. I am certainly farther ahead of the game this time around. There is only one baby, I am being closely monitored, I am not yet dilated and I am not in the hospital. all great things! Prayers are always appreciated though, as I am nervous about another early delivery.