Funny News

"In this photo released by Melynne Stone, Jamison Stone, 11, poses with a wild pig he killed near Delta, Ala., May 3, 2007. Stone's father says the hog weighed a staggering 1,051 pounds and measured 9-feet-4 from the tip of its snout to the base of its tail. If claims of the animal's size are true, it would be larger than ``Hogzilla,'' the huge hog killed in Georgia in 2004. (AP Photo/Melynne Stone) "

Leslie - be careful down there in Alabama!

One Month Old

Little Ellerie is 1 month old today! This isn't the best picture, but it will have to do for now. I can't believe that 1 month has passed already. She is such a sweet baby. She slept alot this first month, which most of my babies do because they are born a bit early. We actually had to wake her up for feedings since she's so little (but the hardest part was keeping Mommy awake for the feedings)! You know how it is ladies, right? You get up to feed and fall asleep. Then you wake up and wonder if she ate from both sides yet? It's been those kind of nights!

The adjustment for the older children seems to be going as well as expected! Coleman and Emmie love to shower her with kisses and sit beside me while I feed her. Calvin has been loving and gentle with her as well, giving her plenty more kisses. I know we are so blessed but I was quickly reminded of how hard these first few weeks are because of lack of sleep and the many needs of a newborn (as well as the needs of a 2-year old, 4-year old and 6-year old). I don't always handle life so well on so little sleep so I am trying to sleep when I can and not worry so much about the house. Just make sure to call before you come by so I can throw everything into a hiding place!

But I have been able to get a bath each day! That in itself is a reason to sing some praise!!

The 7 Meme

I was tagged by Christina on May 13 to do this meme. Sorry it has taken so long...

Here are the rules: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. Fact: Right now, I am nursing a newborn for at least 9 hours a day. Isn't a 'typical' work day just 8 hours? What about those other kids, husband, and laundry? Good question!

2. Habit: When I eat Captain Crunch Berry cereal, I eat all of the yellow pieces first and then I eat all of the berries - and then I drink the milk out of the bowl.

3. Fact: I LOVE sweet tea - not tea with sugar put in when the tea is cold - not tea with sweetener added - tea with a bunch of sugar mixed in the pitcher when the tea is hot. Then the tea should be chilled for several hours and then consumed on the porch on a nice spring day! (Right now I am also in a phase where I like to drink Coke Zero! Have you tried it? It's good!)

4. Habit: I always put lotion on my feet take my makeup off before I go to bed.

5. Fact: I once went bowling with DC Talk while I was in college. No big deal really - I doubt they remember it! I was friends with their drummer at the time and he invited me to go bowling with everyone while they were in Birmingham.

6. Fact: We have had a 'baby boom' in our family. There are 9 (soon to be 10) grandchildren on my parents side of the family. There are 10 grandchildren on my husband's side of the family. That's alot of cousins ... and alot of Christmas presents!

7. Habit: I do my weekly grocery shopping at WalMart and I have a very detailed list. I almost always walk the same path down all of the aisles and can probably do the shopping in my sleep!

I guess that's all for now. Most bloggers have already been tagged.

I will tag: Kelly
Dani
Beth
Claire (I know you don't have a blog, but maybe post your 7 things in my comments!)

Mother's Day Weekend

Last week my parents were here. My Dad has been teaching himself Spanish for the past few years. Last week, he taught the kids to count to 10 in Spanish with his Spanish computer software!

My Mom with Ellerie.

We also had Emmie's dance recital this weekend. She was in 2 numbers this year which made for a long night but we enjoyed that time together. Plus she's a cutie isn't she?

Granny (Brian's Mom) made a special cake for the weekend!

And we finished up Coleman's first real soccer season on Saturday!!

Definitely a busy but fun weekend. The kids signed a special card for me on Sunday and also gave me some beautiful red roses! And I got the special gift that I requested: a NAP!

Day One of "On Our Own"

We all survived our first day alone. Yesterday Emmie asked me, "Is Daddy going to work tomorrow." I told her that he was. Her next question was "who is going to take care of you Mommy?" Good question Emmie!

Brian was able to take off the first 2 weeks after Ellerie was born. His parents live in town and helped us the first week with our older children, for which we are forever grateful. They cooked many casseroles and helped stock our freezer with chicken and corn dogs. The second week Brian took care of the kids and the house while I took care of nursing the baby (none of my babies are quick nursers - we have long sessions due to my 'skim' milk).

Brian went back to work last Monday and my parents arrived that afternoon to stay for a week. I was glad they were here last week so they could nurse me through a fever. They entertained the older children and loved on us all and stocked our freezer some more. Our church has also blessed us with meals the last couple of weeks.

But today ... we were all alone. I didn't set lofty goals - just one: that everyone be fed throughout the day. That happened and everyone had on real clothes before lunch! Awesome. I forgot how tiring it is with a newborn. She's a sweetie but she sleeps too good. She's so little and needs to eat at night so I have to wake her up to eat, but the hard part is keeping myself awake!

We're hanging in there and I am trying to enjoy these newborn moments (if I can remember them). We have been blessed with a sweet little girl and all 3 of the others are fascinated with her and love to shower her with hugs and kisses!

I think I am rambling (chalk it up to lack of sleep) so I will try to update later ... don't expect much 'substance' from this blog any time soon!

A Birth Story - Finally!!

Here’s the male version (for my brothers): Labor good. Baby born. Girl. 6 1bs. 3 oz.

Ladies this is for you: On Monday, April 23, I began having regular Braxton Hicks contractions pretty consistently about every 10 minutes. April 23 was also Coleman’s 6th birthday. We had his big party a week ago but PawPaw and Granny were coming over that evening for some birthday cake and a few gifts. (Poor child – 2 parties).

Later on that afternoon, the contractions were about 6-7 minutes apart. I called my Doctor to see what he wanted me to do and he wanted me to come in that afternoon. But I told him I couldn’t until after supper – I mean, I couldn’t miss Coleman’s special night. So after dinner, I decided to drink water and lay down and see if I could slow the contractions because I didn’t want to have the baby during the night (I didn’t like the on-call Doctor and I really wanted my Doctor to deliver Ellerie). He has delivered all of the others and is very special to us. Plus I was having another VBAC and felt more comfortable with him doing the delivery!

The contractions began to slow a little that evening. But through the night they got closer and a little more painful. So Granny came over around 5 am and we got to the hospital around 6:15 am. After my Dr. got in that morning and checked me, I was at 3 cm. Since I was progressing ‘a little’ on my own (even though slowly) he decided to go ahead and break my water. He hated to send us home without the baby and we would have had a very disappointed 4-year old if we came home without her new sister. My Dr. couldn’t give me a lot of pitocin because I was having a VBAC and pitocin can increase the chance of uterine rupture. So, the morning went slowly and the contractions didn’t increase too much. Around lunch, he gave me just a whiff of pitocin, and boy howdy, that’s all it took.

I talked to Kim and she said “Go ahead and get the epidural girl so you don’t miss the window.” So, I called for the epidural – and good thing, because those suckers started coming strong and fast!! The nice needle guy came in and did his thing. When he finished, he said “let me know if you feel tingly, if your mouth feels funny, or if you hear ringing in your ears.” Well, all of a sudden I felt all of those things and it sort of freaked me out. But he just said, it’s all temporary. Nice! So I began to wait for the epidural to take effect … and I waited … and I waited … and I waited. Then I began to cry and moan and let everyone know that it wasn’t working. The nurses came in and asked about that pain scale. You know the one ladies … where they ask you about the pain on a scale of 1-10. I hate that scale but I let them know I was off the charts! They called the needle man to come back and fix me. He came in and topped me off with more medicine but that didn’t work either. I wonder where all of that medicine went because none of it went to my abdomen or legs! I know some women choose to labor this way, but ladies … the pain is there because of a curse, why would I choose that? That is not for me! The needle man (no longer the nice needle man) came back a 3rd time and re-stuck me in the back in a different place! Finally some relief. Although by this time I was about 8-9 cm but at least I got it before I had to push.

Pushed just a couple of times … and there she was. Sweet Ellerie Dean Barber. Weighing 6 lbs 3 oz and 18 ½ in. long!!

I still can’t get over how amazing it is to carry a baby and then all of a sudden to be able to hold her. Definitely a miracle.

All of the other kids are fascinated with her and love to kiss her. Even little Calvin is charmed by her! We are so thankful for all of your prayers during this time.

I hope to blog more when I am able to get a little more sleep ... so until then!