My Baby is 4 years old today.

I have officially left the toddler stage of life.  Our AngelBaby is 4 years old today.  Granted, she will always be MY baby, but this birthday marks the end of the baby-toddler era in our lives.  It's so exciting to anticipate the days ahead, yet I want to cradle her in my arms and rock her to sleep, while humming "Baby Mine".  

AngelBaby was exactly that - an Angel of a Baby.  She was perfect.  Heavenly Father knew I would struggle so terribly with PPD, so he sent me my AngelBaby.  She must have had angels singing to her constantly, because she *never* cried.  I know that most will not believe me, but she was the quietest newborn and baby - she loved her swing, and would lay there, content for hours, until I'd pick her up and realize she had been sitting in a soaked diaper for a while, smiling all through it all..  

My biggest regret is that I don't remember much of her first year.  She was so calm and peaceful, but my mind is so clouded by the depression that consumed me.  I simply remember how easy she was to please, and how she was always content.

AngelBaby was due in January of 2005.  The pregnancy was a shock, Princess had been a difficult pregnancy and a sick newborn, and we had thought our family was complete.  Thank Goodness we were so wrong!  My pregnancy was difficult, and much too eventful for my liking.  I ended up in the doctor's office often, with migranes and the beginnings of Pre-eclampsia.  Just before 37 weeks, my headache worsened, and I was told again to come on in to the Doctor.  The midwife took my BP, and it was at 180/130.  It continued up, the headache worsened, and I had sudden pitted edema.  The doctor came in and told me "You are having a baby today.  Go straight to the hospital.  Do not disobey - this is serious."

AngelBaby arrived at 12:00 midnight ... and 2 seconds.  She took one hour to arrive, from the moment I received my IV of pitocin.  Right after her birth, she was taken to the NICU for respiratory distress syndrome - just like Princess, and my heart hurt to have the NICU experience again.  She was intubated, and the NICU was a horrible experience, except for ONE nurse named Mike.  Mike was the only reason I could stop sobbing - He loved caring for our baby girl.  He would dress her with hats, and matching blankets.  He talked to her in a cooing soft voice.  He was so excited when she was finally off the ventilator, it touched our hearts to see how much he cared.  He was a ray of sunlight in our very horrible NICU experience.  

AngelBaby was adored by her siblings the moment they met.  Princess was in love, and SuperBoy thought she was cool.  As she grew, so did her sense of humor.  She was just a couple months old when DH would tell a joke, and she would break out in a huge gummy grin.  She could tell when he was trying to be funny, and reward him with grins, and later big baby giggles.  The kid has ALWAYS had a huge sense of humor - seriously, she was born with it!   AngelBaby has also always loved animals - been drawn to them, and adores them.  She learned to crawl by trying to get over to our Maggie-Dog.  She learned to stand by pulling up on Maggie-Dog's fur.  She gave so much love to the cat, that Lilly-Cat avoided her for a couple years.  She is always wanting to hold the bunnies, and loves to play with them and snuggle them.  And she loves our Lucy-Dog.  Lucy thinks of AngelBaby as her litter-mate puppy, and AngelBaby considers Lucy a friend that gives great kisses (eww, lol!)  If we had to guess her profession right now, she would be a veterinarian when she grows up.

Today AngelBaby is 4.  She can say her ABCs, count to 38 (then skips to 100, lol), do simple math, and entertain herself for hours.  Her best friend is her sister.  Her favorite movie is still Curious George, and she loves to play "Curious George" on the gamecube.  She tells jokes all the time - her current favorite is "Why did the chicken cross the road?  I'll give you a hint - it says quack!"  Then she laughs for a couple minutes, thinking she's SO funny!   She can be feisty, but she's quick to snuggle, and give hugs and kisses, and say "I love you".  Her most favorite thing in the world is when someone will snuggle with her ... even if it's her brother ;)  

AngelBaby, we love and adore you.  The world would be a much duller place without you!  Your precious smile lights up a room, and your giggle is so contagious, that even strangers can't help but smile!  Baby Mine, I love you.

AngelBaby is two

December was a busy month, complete with AngelBaby's 2nd birthday!

She has, unfortunately, refused all negotiations to stop growing up. She now talks, runs, and has an opinion. We are appealing her decision to move ahead and become a toddler. The management is not prepared to to potty train again or sing Eensy-Weensy-Spider 67 times in a row, but AngelBaby is proving to be a rebel. Our little rebel is also prone to snuggling, hugging, giggling, and saying “I wuv you!”

We must admit ... we love her too!

She was not an expected baby, but very much wanted. We found out we were expecting when Princess was just 7 months old. It was a rough pregnancy. I was in the hospital 6 times throughout the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, and the OB had me coming in weekly, just to take care of me. About 30 week, my migraines began, but my blood pressure was still okay, so I was given a cocktail shot of medications. The meds would work for a few days, then they'd give me another shot. My mom took SuperBoy (then 3) to her house for a month, and I was about to rest with just Princess ... a rather easy 1 year old. It was during this bedrest time that Princess finally learned to walk (at 15 1/2 months!)

Then, at 36 weeks, 5 days, I went in with another migraine, and my OB's midwife took my blood pressure ... it was high. My OB was out of town, so the midwife and on-call OB sent me straight to the hospital to be monitered. I was there from 11am until 10pm, with the blood pressure cuff going off every 15 minutes. My blood pressure would shoot up, then be normal the next time. My highest was about 190/130, and the lower #s were in the 110/70 range. My blood pressure was unpredictable ... which can be a sign of a stroke, and with pre-eclampsia, they were not going to take any chances. It was then, about 10:30pm - after talking to my regular OB - that they decided to induce me immediately. DH ran home to let our babysitter leave, since his dad was almost in town to stay with our other two kids.

I was started off on Magnesium Sulfate, and given pitocin to start labor. MagSulf is used to stop preterm labor, so sometimes it is slow starting, but once I got the pit, my labor picked up quickly. 15 minutes into the pitocin, at 11:30pm, my OB got back in town, and came straight to the hospital without seeing his family. He broke my water, and immediately I was in hard labor. My OB looked at me and said "I was going to run home and kiss my wife, but I'm not gonna take any chances. I'll be in the breakroom right next door." The next 15 minutes were miserable. I was alone, trying to relax, but without my coach. I kept trying to call DH between contractions. I got panicked and couldn't relax. The Nurse came in with the epidural guy just as my DH walked in. I gave in and got my epidural ... looking back I was in transition already. The epidural was pointless. The nurse left, and within seconds I was yelling - "she's coming! THIS BABY IS COMING!". DH didn't believe me at all, but the nurse sprinted in, started tearing the room apart, and yelling for the Dr stat ... before she even checked me. DH thought we were all nuts. But, the Dr ran in at 2 minutes to midnight, and (much to my relief) I could push freely. Everone was staring at the clock when AngelBaby was born ... it was 15 seconds after midnight! She was born at 12:00:15am, her birth certificate says 12:01 am to keep the confusion at bay.

She was beautiful, and as they took her to the warming bed, I prayed so hard for her to cry out, let me know that her lungs were okay (Princess hadn't cried at all...). She gave out a cry, but that was it. They whisked her away to the NICU, where she ended up being intubated on the vent. It was a rough time. NICU nurses can be amazing. We had one - his name was Mike. Unfortuantly the other nurses were not so amazing. They wouldn't let me breastfeed for more than 15 minutes total, and that was the only time I was allowed to hold AngelBaby, except for when Mike was working - he was a true angel in that NICU. A few days into the NICU experience, a nurse told me to hold AngelBaby's pacifier in, and the nurse proceded to prod and poke AngelBaby's head, trying to insert an IV, but missing. She tried for 15 minutes. I was choking back sobs, with tears streaming down my face as my newborn baby screamed silently ... unable to cry. As I tried to look away, I saw 5 other NICU parents there, staring in horror ... tears streaming down their cheeks. They all came and hugged me after it was over. This nurse disobeyed the pediatrician's orders blatently throughout that entire night ... including giving AngelBaby a feeding tube, and refusing to let me breastfeed. Then, the scalp IV didn't even stay, so they did one in Angel baby's hand again ... my newborn's hand was black and blue from all the bruising ... and it stayed bruised for several weeks. I cryed that entire night. Seeing my Pediatritian the next morning was like an angel walking into the room. He looked at AngelBaby's chart, looked at the nurse, and said "I am sending this baby home this morning ... her mother will take better care of her than she is getting here." The nurse was fumming! We had to wait for the oxygen-home-service to arrive, then we were able to load our little AngelBaby into our car, and take her home. I was so relieved, I cried for the first hour, just holding her swaddled against my chest. DH finally made me lay her down so I could sleep ... something I hadn't done in days, since I'd been sitting at the NICU at nights too.

AngelBaby was truely an Angel of a Baby. She hardly cried, loved to be cuddled, but also loved her swing. She was so very content ... always. Her whole first year, she was just content, as long as mommy was near. She was an Angel as I battled PPD. The perfect baby.

As she's turned into a toddler, she is still my baby. She still cuddles, and gives the sweetest kisses. She loves to run around, and is always in the shadows of her big brother and big sister. She has turned into a very curious climber, earning herself the nickname: curious george. She adores curious george, and screams "jore, jore!!!" whenever we turn on a curious george show. When we tell her to be a "good little monkey", she looks at us with an impish grin, and replies "ooo ahh ooh" like a little monkey.

She might be two, and throw some impressive tantrums, but she will always be my AngelBaby.

Our Angel Baby: Christmas Miracle to Tender Toddler

Five years and a day ago ....

My first child was born. My Son. A gorgeous, healthy 8lb 11 oz baby boy. He was perfect, started sleeping through the night after the first month, or occassionally waking just once or twice when he'd hit a growth spurt, and was so very content all the time, and smiled and cooed at everyone and anyone. He was a doll, and I doted on him like any adoring first-time mother. He was my little-man, and I fell happily in love with motherhood.





By six months old, he weighed a whopping 25lbs, but was solid as could be, with just the right amount of squeezable baby chub. At just 6 months old, he was already a total flirt ... paying special attention to older girls he thought were cute, like the girl at kiddiekandids, or the checkout girl at albertsons ... and the girls flirted right back with him, making him giggle with delight.










He's was quite the mama's boy, which I must admit, I highly encouraged. He'd bring me dandilions, shower me with hugs and kisses, and would curl up with me for naptime, falling asleep contently nestled next to me. It was aroung two years old that he fell in love with the SuperBowl, and watching football when it was on, lol.



By 3 years old, he had a baby sister, and a mommy that was 6 months pregnant with another sister. He was happy-go-lucky, and adoring towards his little sister, sharing with her, gently steering her away from "danger", and holding her hand constantly. I think by the time his youngest sister came, he was no longer "mama's boy." He had become "sisters' boy". He still adored me of course, and always tried to please me, and take care of me. If I was having a rough day, SuperBoy would bring me a castle he built for me out of duplo legos, or snuggle up next to me, and say "I wuv ya mommy". His tender little heart has always touched me so deeply.




His fourth year was a little rocky for him, but he still stayed sweet as could be. He was very diligent in taking care of his sisters, playing with Princess, and rocking AngelBaby in her swing. He would run and get me the second he thought he heard the baby fuss. When you asked who his best friend was, he'd say "my best fwend is Pwincess". When they'd fight, he'd tell her sorry, then turn to me, and say "sometimes fighting is what best fwends do".






Now my little man is 5 years old. He starts Kindergarten in two weeks. He knows his letters, their sounds, and is working on counting to 100. He loves his new bike, and is very safety-concience, and always talks about staying on the safe side. He's bubbly, loves to play, but always wants to help too. He's just found the wonderful world of normal Legos and transformers ... and while he's not above playing "dora" with his sisters, he is 100% B.O.Y.







I love you little SuperBoy. You're turning into a little "SuperMan", and I already tear up when I think of you leaving on a mission in ... 14 years, lol. Your eyes are so wise, and your tenderheart keeps you so perceptive to others needs and feelings. You have an incredable spirit, and a difinitive need to do what's right. Last night, we took you to dinner, and the server teased you "you're halfway to ten!" Daddy and I looked at you and instantaniously got tears in our eyes. Don't grow up too fast little SuperMan ... like I told you right then: "How about you stay 5, and stop growing up so fast!" You thought that was funny, and turned back to your french fries.
Little SuperMan, I love you. You are my little sweetheart, and love seeing who you are turning into ... and I love it! You are one amazing lil' man.

Three Years Ago ...

My Princess is three years old today. I was sent to the hospital at 6am for an induction at 35 weeks, due to severe preeclampsia. Princess was born at 3:29pm. She was 5lbs, 15oz and 18 inches long.

I held her for about thirty seconds, before the NICU team rushed her away, DH in tow. I was sure it was just a formality, since she was premature. In the NICU, Princess's lungs stuck together, because of a lack of natural surfactin to keep her lungs able to work. She was intubated with the ventilator, then she recieved surfactin (did you know they use pig surfactin, since it's so similar?!). She was also given an umbilical IV. She was also treated for low blood sugar, and infection, and jaundice.

She was in the NICU for a week ... where she dropped to 5lbs 0 oz, and the Dr decided that her mommy could take better care of her than the stupid nurses (his words, not mine ... though I wholeheartedly agreed - sadly, we had a couple BAD nurses!). She was sent home on 1/8th a L of oxygen. At home, she quickly regained her weight, being able to feed on demand, and being loved and snuggled. She had the oxygen for 2 months, and was given the synagis shots for RSV prevention.

Princess has always been our little princess princess ... from the day she was born, with her dainty fingers and tiny ears, to now, dressing up, playing house, and looking so comfortable in a crown and ball gown. She has had a very sensitive immune system, but has stregnthened so much in just the past year ... we can finally deal with a cold without panicking.

Princess is now a clever, sweet little preschooler with a sweet, shy smile, a higher spanish vocabulary than me, and a desperate love for candy - mainly chocolate. Her favorite color is pink, and according to her, "Pink" has the sweetest smell of any color (as she sniffs the crayons). Her favorite movies are Dora and Mermaidia. Her favorite animals are baby Zebras ... though she likes Pink Baby Zebras the best. She loves to read, play with her Dora playhouse, and have gigglefests with her brother and sister. She is adored by just about everyone, and is very tenderhearted, but can hold her own, and has a titch of sassiness in her. Happy Birthday Princess!




































































As you can see in the last two pictures (from this morning), we FOUND "Pink-Baby-Zebra" stuff --- Cute gap zebra top, and a super soft baby zebra from TRU. She's on cloud nine today!

Well, we're off to find a pinata for tomorrow's party ... Ay,yi,yi.



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Sat AM: Last night, my grandparents came and took us to dinner to celebrate all the birthdays ... we quietly told the waiter that it was DH and Princess's birthday. So many people just don't believe that they have the same birthday! Our waiter was so great though. After dinner, Princess and DH each recieved a huge piece of ice-cream cake. The piece was as big as Princess's head! Thank goodness my sweet grandpa had his camera with him!


(The cake as big as her head)



















(The "birthday kids")















(Princess ate ALL this on her own!)




















(All our little munchkins ... they all were very well behaved!)















We're almost ready for the party this afternoon ... I have the party bags ready, the pinata stuffed, the lollipop-flowers made ... I just need to make the cake and make a "map". I'll post pictures of the party later! 9 kids 5 and under ... this should be a ton of fun!