Melt, One Month, Meltdown

The snow is beginning to melt... it could mean spring is actually on its way. I'm scared to hold my breath.

Randy and Michele were down this past weekend to spend some time with the kids. They spent some time in the backyard and we took them for a walk at the zoo too. They insisted that Matt and I go out too - so we headed downtown and took in a few places that we'd heard about, including Edwinton Brew and Anima Cucina - it was weird to be out without the kids! Had appetizers at the Brewery and dessert at the Italian restaurant.

It's hard to believe Ainsley is 1 month old. We are still working on understanding a schedule of any sorts - she will sleep really well from midnight to 5 but getting her to go down is an act of congress!

Matt has started grilling and with that, I've been letting the kids go out on the deck with him - they think it's great. I don't know who is more excited to be out in the fresh air. We've also dug their cars out from storage. E had a bit of a meltdown that we think they are big enough to drive/Fred Flintstone themselves. We are working through it.

 Everyone getting ready to leave in the morning.
MJR: Eleanor, let's put on your HelloKitty shoes and go.
EER: I want to wear my boots.
MJR: Eleanor, let's put on your shoes.
EER: Dad, I can't wear them.
MJR: Why?
EER: My shoes are full of mud, I can't wear them.
MJR looks at them. There is not a speck of mud on them.
MJR: There isn't any mud on them.
EER: YES, FULL of mud.
Takes shoes out of MJR's hand and throws them down the hall to the laundry room.
EER: I will wear my boots.

Sledding, Zoo

The cold has FINALLY broke, a little. Enough for us to go outside and play a bit.

We headed out to the farm to celebrate my mom's birthday (E had made a pound cake the week before even). We brought our winter gear and the kid's sleds. Climbed on the hay bales and then went sledding off the snow pile in the yard. They had a blast... well mostly, E did lose her boot in the snow and it was a total catastrophe.

With the weather breaking, we also decided to head to the zoo - they open on the weekend for winter hours and thought maybe getting out and about would be good. We were a little ill prepared as we didn't have our welly boots on and with the puddles everywhere it would have been good. It was fun going during a different season - so easy to see some of the animals. Grady liked waving to the animals - Eleanor liked it let when let her out to run on the path. Favorites of hers include the otter and the camels.

Normal, Cabin Fever, Great Grandma

We are working on finding a new normal... so far here's what I got....
1. Nothing will be clean.
2. Someone is always crying.
3. We are tired!!!!!!!!

I knew this whole dropping a third kid in wouldn't be easy but everyone says "Oh, the transition to two kids was WAY harder than to three - that one was easy." here's what I have to say to those Liars... Bologna! At one point I'm carrying A up and down the stairs while convincing E to sit on the potty versus see "what we've done" while G is attempting to learn how to fly off the kitchen chairs. Don't misinterpret that I'm not loving seeing the three of them interact but I would enjoy it much more on a solid 4 or 5 hours of consecutive sleep. A likes to party until midnight... I think the others have tasked her with attempting to wear down my spirits so they can do whatever they want. It's working.

We did take them all to the aquatic center the other night to burn off some steam... they have a little indoor play area and with the temps still below zero - everyone is getting cabin fever and sick of being inside. I did kick everyone outside this past weekend to handle the snow dump that we received. They didn't last too long and they weren't a tremendous help to Matt but I guess you gotta start somewhere.

Ainsley also got to meet her Great Grandma Dar this past week. Mom and her popped in and spent a little time snuggling.

EER and ALR go upstairs because EER has poo'd in her pullup.
ALR: Oh, no Eleanor, you got some on your shirt - you are going to get a bath in 10 minutes, you can go shirtless until then.
Three days later....
MJR is getting dressed in the morning.
Fight breaks out in another room.
MJR goes into other room.
EER looks MJR: Dad, where's your shirt?
MJR: It's in my room, I'm going to go put it on.
EER: You poop on your shirt?
MJR: I did not! I just haven't got it on yet.
EER: You poop on your shirt.

Hopibal, Home, Help

Five. We are Five.
That's like more than a booth.
I kept saying that to myself in the hospital - I'm not sure if I was convincing myself or was in shock or disbelieve or what. We had a daily routine - to a certain extent, while I was in the hopibal (as E would say it). After daycare, they would have dinner and then come up to visit Ainsley and I. Depending on how well our listening ears were working, they'd spend an hour before heading home to bed with Dad.

MJR, EER, and GRR heading home after the first night.
EER: My sister loves me.
MJR: Yes, she does.

Matt only was able to spend the first night with me, which felt a bit odd

compared to the other stays. He did come up during the days after dropping the kids off at daycare. We started on a Monday and left on a Thursday. Was nice to get settled at home and I will say, our first meal home, courtesy of a good friend - was wonderful. The kids ate, we ate, Ainsley slept. It almost made me believe that we've got this.

I also believed that on the first day of maternity leave - she woke, she ate, she slept. I got a nap, a shower, and two meals. The days got a little harder, especially because she likes to party all night when she wakes up but has a hard time getting back to sleep or going to bed at night. E and G adore her though. When they get home from daycare, Sister is the first one that they look for. E will ask and G goes on a hunt - after he finds her, gives her a little wave and then proceeds to bring her all of her belongings - her little lovey, her blankets, and whatever pacifiers he can get his hands on - all without us asking for this help. Meanwhile, E wants to hold her hand - tightly. If this child makes it with all her limbs in working condition to her first birthday, we will have reason to celebrate. We are working on gentle and also working on the appropriate place to kiss Sister - given the fact that noses are running on these children constantly, I'd like less touching but I get they are interested in her and want to be a part of her life. Hard to say no to that help and love.

Sitting on the couch -
MJR: Grady, do you want to hold Ainsley?
GRR nods and smiles enthusiastically
MJR puts ARR into GRR's lap
GRR immediately starts to nuzzle her and hug her.
MJR: Grady, we are sorry! We should have asked you sooner if you wanted to hold her.
GRR piles on the kisses

Guest Blogger: The Third Time is the Charm

Written by Matt

It started out like the other times, but this one was earlier and colder - WAY colder, the high on the day our last baby was born was negative six. We were the first baby scheduled for the day - this meant that we needed to be at the hospital at 5:00AM - in the morning. Early. Diana came over to watch the kids and take them to daycare - a nice surprise for the kids. We got to the hospital on time - unfortunately with how early, I was unable to keep my tradition of breakfast and just started the day with a small snack at the house. We checked in and a nurse took us to the labor and delivery floor - asking the standard questions (are you ready? how are you feeling? is this your first? do you know what you having?).

Once we got settled, things moved along fairly well. IV in, heart monitors on both, anesthesiologist check in and just waited for the team to take her down. I took this opportunity to grab some breakfast - afterall a tradition is a tradition. I had Burger King croissants.

The only thing left for me to do was put on my scrubs and soak in the final moments of being parents of two. At 6:50, we had a final briefing and at 7:10, they came for her to prep for her spinal. I had to wait until that was in place before I could join her.
(Amanda's insert: the room was fricken cold and I'd learned my lesson on looking around at the equipment and tools that were on the table - all that does is scare the hell out of you. This spinal was probably the easiest of the three as I knew how to do it and the staff was amazing)

The team was in place when I came in the room and after a timeout, Dr. Bury got started. We've had her with each baby so we all knew what to expect and after all the woman has delivered over a 1000 babies. Dr. Bury let me know when things had progressed and when I should peer over the drape to see the baby's arrival. She commented on her full head of hair, and at 7:39, I got to see for myself and I agreed - she had a lot and it was black. In the past, we would have all stayed in the same room - but due to staffing levels at the hospital, baby had to be taken to the NICU for initial care and observation - I went with baby while Amanda finished up. During the initial care, baby was measured and weighed; she came in 21" and 7 pounds, 13 ounces. I also cut the cord, which was squishy. The girl had a set of lungs on her... howled and howled, for sure our loudest baby. Overall, she was healthy, she was a little cold so we she stayed under the heater a little longer, but once she warmed up we went back into the room to see mom. This is when I introduced Ainsley Ruth to Amanda and the nurses and doctors in the room.
(Amanda's insert: it sucked to have them in another room, with the others I could hear them processing, I could hear Matt's updates, and I could hear the baby - this time I didn't get any of that. Dr. Bury did comment that we made the right decision with having a c-section as there was a knot in her cord, which could have caused distress in a natural labor.)

Not long after, we returned to our room. I sent a couple of texts letting family know that mom and baby were doing well and we all took a quick nap. We spent much longer in the room than anticipated and we didn't get over to the nursery until about 11:30. At that point, I went and got Eleanor and Grady. Now, we had been prepping them for "Baby Sister's" arrival. We told them that we were going to the hospital and that doctors were going to help get baby sister out of mom's tummy. The kids didn't quite get understand but they seemed to understand right away when they saw Miss Ainsley for the first time. Eleanor was in awe and wanted to hug her. We had to remind her to be very gentle with Baby Sister. Grady was interested for a few minutes but was more focused on his new surroundings. After hugs and kisses, Grady and Eleanor went back to daycare.

I returned to the hospital after grabbing lunch and rested with Amanda and Ainsley. Diana and Perry came and visited that afternoon and Alaina came when she got off work. At 5, I went and picked up the kids, grabbed supper from McDonald's then went up to the hospital to eat as a family of five for the first time. Again, the kids were interested in their new sister but were getting easily distracted by their new surroundings. Shantelle came to visit that evening as well. The kids and I left Shantelle with Ainsley and Amanda to head home after a long day. I got the kids down and Aunt Alaina came over to watch them until Diana was able to make it in to stay overnight.

After getting back to the hospital, Amanda and I chatted a little bit about the day and how nice it was to finally meet Ainsley and how the kids just knew that we all belonged together. Amanda went to bed around 9am and i stayed up a little watching a movie, thinking we now have a party of five!     


EER holding ARR: Angry
MJR: Yes, Sister's name is Ainsley.
EER: Angry.
MJR: Yes, AINS-ley
EER: Yes, Angry.
MJR: Yes, Ainsley Ruth.
EER: Angry Roof.
MJR takes kids to daycare comes back.
MJR: I told daycare her name otherwise they'd think we gave her a horrid weird name.