Getting the hang of things....

Yesterday, my oldest daughter did something I have never done, she went to camp. She is old enough to go to camp. Where has the time gone? Anyways, she went to a Christian camp not far from where we live. We dropped her off yesterday morning and then I went and picked her up this morning. A full 24 hours. I don't think she missed us at all. Her bestie, Hannah, was there with her and some other friends from church so she wasn't alone. I asked Lauren about her activities and the most I got out of her was the fact they sang some songs and went swimming. As I type this, she is zonked out.....camp took a lot out of her.

Now, Claire cried the entire way home yesterday after dropping Lauren off. She wanted to stay at camp but she gets to go to the preschool program that starts next week. I know she is ready for that. It is nature based and she loves anything that has to do with going outside. She finally calmed down when I promised her I would take her swimming which we did and then she didn't even get in the water that much. She missed her big sister.

Brooke is doing so well and growing like a weed. I think we are going through a growth spurt. The newborn diapers aren't fitting that well anymore and we are slowly getting out of the newborn outfits (not that I had that many to begin with.) She is having more periods of wakefulness and the other night when she decided to stay awake from 2am to 4am, she was trying to talk and looking at her hand. I even got a smile or two from her. AND, she has started holding her head up on her own, she looks like a turtle:). She is too little to be doing that already. We are mainly bottle feeding her now. I still try to nurse but she just doesn't stay latched on long enough for the goods to start flowing and then she gets frustrated. I feel like a dairy cow, pumping at regular intervals. At least I know that she is still getting my milk. She just wakes up once a night, usually between 2 and 3 am and then wakes up at around 6-6:30am. For the past two mornings, Mark has fed her and let me go back to sleep (after I pump) and then she goes back to down. I can't complain one bit about this baby. She is so sweet and only cries when she is hungry. We are definitely blessed this third time around.

Lauren and Claire are still doing okay with her. Lauren is getting better and Claire just goes about her business as usual. I find that I can't always get things done when I want too but hey, it's okay, things will eventually get done. I was hanging out clothes this afternoon (and praying that the dog doesn't tear them down again :/) and thinking to myself, I have 3 daughters. It is still hard to believe sometimes that we have 3 kids. The only thing that has really changed, other than the fact that I'm constantly changing diapers and pumping, is it takes just a little longer to get out the door to go somewhere. I haven't figured that part out just yet. It's a good thing it's summer:). We are getting the hang of things........

LIfe Goes On...

We had an extremely busy weekend here at the Magic McCain's. On Saturday morning, we decided on the fly to head to Raleigh to watch our local baseball team play in the state championship. Remember, Brooke was just born:). It took us about a hour and a half to get ready but nonetheless, we headed out the door. Many people looked at us like we were crazy, bringing a week old baby to a ballgame. Then we proceeded to head to our cousin's house for her birthday. We all had a good time but we were tired. And wouldn't you know Saturday night was the first night since she was born, Brooke woke me up in the middle of the night, not vice versa.

She only did once, she's sleeping in 4 hour increments at night and for that, I'm not complaining.

The girls and I went to church yesterday without Daddy. He had a service call. Again, people couldn't believe that I was at church and that I came with all 3 girls by myself. No big deal, life goes on.

Speaking of Brooke, she is now off the bili lights. We went to the pediatrician on Friday. She gained back up to 8lbs., 3ozs., and her total bili had gone down a few points. He felt that she was doing great and didn't need to be on the lights anymore. He also told us to never wake a sleeping baby. I took those words to heart:). Brooke is still having trouble latching on but we are still practicing. She is taking a bottle like a champ and pumping is going fine. Although, I'm starting to feel like a dairy farm around here. At least I have a service man that lives with me....hehehehe!!

We are getting used to being a family of five. Sometimes it gets a little crazy. Once school is over with, things will be even better!! Take for example this morning, Brooke woke up at 6:30am. I got up to pump for her, Mark turned on the TV for Lauren to get up. I get Brooke out of the bassinet, change her diaper, make sure Lauren is awake, find out what she wants to eat, fix it, fix her lunch and snack, Claire wakes up and she wants breakfast. I fix that, then finally I'm able to feed Brooke. Then, I make sure that Lauren is dressed and fix her hair. While all of this is going on, Mark is in the bathroom doing his thing. By the time they left for school, I was already exhausted and then we had to proceed to get ready for Brooke's pictures to be made! They are absolutely precious and I can't wait to see them!!

Life goes on. Now, here's a little peek at Brooke and I on the day of her birth! Precious!

This post may seem a little scattered, it's 3pm in the afternoon and I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. Hopefully in a few days I'll have a more coherent post:).

She's Here!!!!

Hello to everyone, I have an announcement to make....Brooke Averie McCain is here!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, after a canceled surgery and multiple dates for induction, she made her debut (I was induced) Friday night, May 27, after about 10 hours of labor and 10 minutes of pushing (and for that I am definitely thankful for:). She weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces and 21 inches long. Right smack dab in the middle of her sisters. Lauren was 8lbs., 7 ozs. and Claire 9 lbs even. Brooke is the same length as Lauren was when she was born. What can I say, I grow them big!!

We are doing okay. The first 24 hours were a little rough. Brooke swallowed a lot of amniotic fluid during her "flight" into the world and didn't want to eat. We had a few episodes of her choking and spitting up stuff. The nurses eventually had to suction out her tummy and got rid of all that excess goop.

She has dark hair:) and most likely will have dark eyes:). I'm so excited about that!! Finally a child with my coloring. She is the sweetest thing and I could eat her up!

We came home on Sunday and she has the jaundice. Right this moment she is comfortably tanning in her bassinet, my little glow worm. Hopefully, a few more days of this and we'll be home free.

We are having some issues nursing but I'm going to persevere. She is lazy, she can latch on but doesn't stay that way and then gets mad when my milk doesn't come and then she throws a little fit and then goes to sleep. I've had to start pumping and giving her a bottle but as long as she is getting my milk, I'm fine with that. She can nurse, she just doesn't want to put forth the effort:).

We are adjusting to the new one. Lauren and Claire love their baby sister and I'm so thankful for that. We have been blessed with a beautiful baby and we couldn't be more happy. Our family of four is now a family of five with 3 beautiful, precious girls and the magic has just begun!!!!!

Update on Baby Brooke

We went to the doctor today. Brooke is still head down and the ultrasound tech estimated her to weigh around 8lbs., 8 ozs. I am a "loose" 1 cm and I guess thinned out some. Dr. K never did say. But instead of being induced on Friday, we are now going in Saturday morning. Kind of throws a kink in things but you know what, at this point in time, I just don't care:). Brooke will eventually get here sooner or later. Maybe we'll go on our own....who knows?

Reflecting and looking ahead....

Now that I have had a chance to calm down and reflect, I'm okay with what happened yesterday. I was so unhappy that we didn't get to have Brooke yesterday. I was so ready to meet this precious baby as was the rest of my family and friends. However, it wasn't in God's plan or in my little wiggle worm's plan. Brooke definitely has a mind of her own:).

Mark and I had a day of rest yesterday after we came home from the hospital. My mother in law had the girls so we didn't have to worry about them until late yesterday evening. I spent the day on the couch dozing and watching TV, reflecting on the situation.

I know it is for the best and I appreciate my doctor for doing what is best. I think he realized that it wasn't that I wanted to have surgery, it's that I'm ready to not be pregnant anymore and ready to meet my baby girl. He told me before he left that we would have something worked out this week. I left knowing we could possibly have her this week but more than likely the next week.

I got a call on my cell a little before 5pm yesterday and it was my doc. He has set up an induction for Friday morning. Mark and I will be yet again heading to the hospital this week. Unless I go into labor on my own, Brooke will be born on May 27th which is the day my doc wanted us to wait for anyways. I have had some change, I was 1 cm dilated yesterday and he stripped my membranes. We go back to the dr on Wednesday so maybe there will be a little more change so that by Friday, we will have a somewhat quick labor and hopefully, please Dear Lord, a not so long delivery:).

With my other two children, I went past my due date and had to be induced both times. I don't dilate on my own and I don't go into labor on my own. I know how to grow babies and do it just fine, but they love to stay cozy inside Mommy. They aren't easy to push out either. Pushing for 3 hours is hard and the effects of that is worse than actual delivery itself and I'll be quite honest, I was looking forward to not having to worry about that since I would be having a section. I'm truly praying this time that labor will be smooth and that because she won't be overdue that maybe I won't be pushing for so long. I know that Brooke will be big but I'm used to that.

So, my little wiggle worm, that has a mind of her own, who is already stubborn in the womb and who is definitely going to give me a run for my money, will be here sometime on Friday. The thing that makes me sad though is that I'll be missing my big girl's dance recital. I've ordered the DVD so eventually I will get to see it. I've explained it to them both and they are okay. They understand that I'll be in the hospital with Brooke. I know that both of them will do a great job and look absolutely beautiful!!

Pretty soon, this family of four is going to be a family of five and I can't wait for the magic to begin!!

Not today.....

You know when you were little and your parents told you about a trip you were going on or getting ready to visit a friend and then it didn't happen. How disappointed you were and a little devastated. That is how I feel right now. Disappointed and devastated.

Brooke is not coming today. She is head down. I am disappointed that I won't get to meet my newest little girl and devastated that I don't know when she'll come. I know that pregnancy is unpredictable but still it was nice to already have a date set without have to worry about scrambling at the last minute.

My girls are going to be disappointed and devastated. They were ready to meet their baby sister.

She'll eventually get here.......:)

Just what I wanted to hear.....NOT REALLY!!!!!!

(Be prepared, this is a long one)

Well, for the few of you that read this blog, you all know that we have planned to have Baby Brooke by c-section on May 23. This was set by one of the doctor's in my practice a week ago because Brooke is breech. Yesterday, I had my weekly appointment. She had me set it up with my primary doctor because in that practice they like for the primary's to do any type of surgery on their patient's if possible. I knew I was going to be in trouble and Mark definitely knew I was going to be in trouble.....

I asked Mark to go with me for some support. As soon as we arrived at the office, they called us back. The one good thing I can say about this appointment is that I haven't gained any more weight and my blood pressure is still good. We go into the room and I get situated on the table and Dr. K comes in. Already by the look on his face, I can tell he is not going to give me news that I want to hear. Now, let me tell you about Dr. K. He is an awesome doctor. When we had our first miscarriage 7 years ago, he was the doc that took care of us. He was very understanding and compassionate and I so appreciated that at the time. He is from the old school, wants nature to take it course, no medical intervention unless absolutely necessary, blah, blah, blah, you get the picture. So as I'm sitting on the table, he starts looking through my chart and Mark starts to smirk. And as Dr. K begins to speak, he says, "Well, here's the thing......"

He doesn't want to do the c-section. Period..... He doesn't feel that it is necessary and that Brooke will turn on her on. Immediately, Mark starts laughing and I feel like I could cry a stinking river!!!!! He starts his spill but then stops and decides to palpate my uterus and do a check before he gives me the rest of his opinion. Guess what folks? She is still breech!!!!!!!!!!!!

Checked my cervix, tight as a tick and still thick, nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is going on downstairs and I'm stinking 38 and half weeks pregnant with my third pregnancy!!!!!!!!!!! She is not going to come out on her own. News flash!!!!

So, he begins his talk again. He believes (and I know he knows more than I, he is the doctor) that #1 he can turn her successfully, and #2 that with time, she'll turn on her own and then we can have a natural birth. I immediately said no to the version. He said I should have no problem since this is my third baby, but you know what, I don't like pain unless I absolutely have to feel it and I'm sure as heck not going to let some doctor put me in pain for something that only has a 60% chance of working. And about her turning, this child has been breech for the most part of the pregnancy. I just didn't know that that hard bump I have been feeling was her head and not her butt:) She hasn't turned in about 3 weeks and quite honestly I don't think she is going to. So then he proceeds to say that he wants us to wait, have another ultrasound in a week and check her position and if she is still head up, have the section on Friday May 27. WHY WAIT 4 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What difference will that do!!!!!!!!!!!? (Can you tell I'm a little frustrated...) But, (there's always a but) if she has turned head down, then he says we can induce the following week AFTER HER DUE DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Because, it's Memorial Day weekend, you know!! Oh and I had let him know about he girls' dance recital that weekend? Yeah, he says he doesn't do surgeries for social reasons and I told him I understood that but yet he won't induce until after Memorial Day weekend......ugh!!! He informed of all that risks and all that and if I had any more babies what that would mean....you get the picture.

Now mind you, the whole time, Mark is laughing and carrying on, I'm trying not to cry so I'm laughing some too, and Dr. K is a little as well. I told him how unbelievably miserable I am and all that and finally he told me it was up to me and just gave me his medical recommendations. He had a great way of making someone feel extremely guilty. And, then he tells us that the doctor last week estimated Brooke to weigh on 5 lbs. 11ozs. I laughed and said that is CRAP (sorry for the vulgarity). She couldn't get a good measurement on Brooke's legs cause they were tucked under and she even said that. There is absolutely no way that Brooke weighs that. I'm as big now as I was when I delivered Claire at 8 days late. I reminded Dr. K too that both of the girls were late and I had to be induced with them. At this point, I think he realized that I wasn't going to change my mind and decided to finish up the appointment before he dug himself any deeper. For those of you who know Mark, he was just eating this up. I love my husband:)

Mark and I left, went shopping and we talked. We weighed the pros and cons. I called family and friends, got opinions and we have ultimately decided to keep the surgery date and proceed with the section. Mark also pointed out that what if she really is that little and something is wrong and that makes me feel like we should definitely proceed. Now, Dr. K. will do an ultrasound before he performs the surgery and if she has turned head down, if the dr. on call will take me on, we will proceed with an induction but only if they are willing to take me as their patient. It's one of the female docs in the practice, I hope they will sympathize:)

I would rather have Brooke the all natural way as God intended but I feel in my heart that she isn't going to turn and I don't want to play the waiting game, been there done that with my other two. We have the date set, Lauren and Claire are taken care of, and we are prepared for this. I'm just scared that if we wait and she doesn't turn, 2 weeks after my due date she is still breech and we wind up having a section anyways.

So, we are still on for May 23. I have got to get my house cleaned, clothes washed, hospital bag packed, girls' packed for an extended stay at Nana's, Lauren and Claire's school schedules taken care of and get mentally prepared for the arrival of Brooke in 4 days. It will all go according to God's plan and I feel at peace with this decision. Just say a little prayer for us that all will go well:)