even MORE fun with Aunt Becky!

We've been loving our visit from Becky! The extra set of hands around the house have been wonderful and the extra creative energy for managing miss Cora priceless.

weeee weeee weeee!!!

mmm, fresh ice cream at dairy farm!

@ Hopeville State Pond

hob-nobbing with the BIG boys

Yes this is Greg and Oliver North. Hmmm, I always thought Ollie was a big guy... guess not?!?

Not much news from Greg, by the way, other than VERY LONG work days and not much sleep and lots of caffeine. Have a cold one for him as he can't have one himself :)

Aunt Hockey visits!

Emi has her first visitor and Cora got her favorite buddy back :) Yes, she calls Becky "Hockey" -- we hope she gets those B's down soon!

Aunt Hockey's "boot camp"

"you do a push-up, I'd rather do downward dog"

sit-ups in sync

squat-a-thon

On another note, Emilia's umbilical stump FINALLY fell off, so she got to enjoy her first tub bath... wouldn't really say she enjoyed it, but hopefully she'll get used to it. Cora sure enjoyed assisting!

summertime pix...

Can you believe it's summer already? We're shocked but glad that the time is flying by!

Cora's ALMOST ready to take the dogs on her own...

her new turtle sandbox (occupied her for over an hour on day one!)

Just chilling with her buddies on the deck

Emi making some kind of statement...

Happy Father's Day!

We had a lovely day here... even got to talk to daddy :) Here are some pix...

Cora and Bonny waking up Sofu with breakfast in bed and a present

bubbles!!!

big girl swing

even Emi enjoyed

3 generation shot at playground

"for he's a jolly good fellow"

an update...

Hi there -- First of all, thank you so much for all the emails and concern. We truly feel blessed for such supportive friends and family. I apologize for not replying to emails right away as it seems as soon as I read a message, I'm otherwise needed elsewhere (I have a feeling this is what motherhood of 2 and acting as a "single" parent will mean...)

We are doing better this week. Dad is home and pretty much recovered, he sees his surgeon again on Monday.

Emi is growing and thriving. She's over 9 lbs now and loves to eat! Her systems are working well and her jaundice is pretty much resolved. Her broken clavicle has already calloused and is into the healing process. She's sleeping through the night in my room and I hope that stays :)

We miss Daddy dearly and look forward to his random communications. He's doing okay and working really hard. His work is important, which is rewarding and hopefully will make the time pass quickly until he can return home to us.

Happy BIRTHday, Emi and WELCOME HOME dad!

We had a party yesterday complete with cake and some bubbly! Cora of course LOVED blowing out Emi's candle :) Wish you were here to celebrate with us...

Kampai

reading her "big sister" book

modeling her Irish claddagh baptismal bracelet

mom showing off her 2 new Vera bags

A little tour of where Greg is stationed

Greg sent me this link that briefly shows life at Camp Eggers, the base where he is currently living. I'm not sure how accurate it is to his life (especially the "fun" part), but it is nice to get a little idea of where he's eating and sleeping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vKj5CBtuexQ

Hope this loads easily -- it's my first time posting like this!

An Official Introduction...

It's taken a while, but we decided upon a name for this new addition! We love it and hope you do, too!

Emilia Vera Madea

what a week...!

It's been a whirlwind week and we're admittedly exhausted. But we know God gives us only what we can handle. I'm SO thankful to have the extra support right now, ESPECIALLY mom and my doula Wendy.

I'm not one to go on and on and on and on, as I hate to be bored and would hate to bore others, so this is a quick summary of what's happened and what's resolved thus far!

• Lil'r M's due date was Sunday the 5th. Since my pregnancy complication of polyhydramnios and history of a big baby, we were eager to get this kiddo delivered! Induction of labor was planned for Monday the 6th.
• Late afternoon on Sunday, my dad started having some sharp pains in his back, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. He was our planned childcare for Cora when I went to the hospital to have baby. Hmmm, not such a good idea. Remember, we recently moved here to CT and I don't know anyone else to just call and ask to step in.
• Monday morning I had to be at hospital at 7 am for labor induction. Mom drove me, but I asked her to go home and watch Cora and dad, rather than be with me as support. This is where my labor doula Wendy was my angel. She was with me the whole day and called mom with updates and talked to Greg when he could call in and I couldn't talk... She was stellar! And pure volunteer through "Operation Special Delivery" -- doulas who volunteer to women who's hubs are deployed during birth of kids.
• Mom did manage to come back to the hospital for LITERALLY the birth of Lil'r M, as mom walked in 5 minutes before she was born.
• I had hoped for a midwife delivery, naturally, but she had to leave and I was being managed by a doctor (who was very nice, but I had never met her before that day). The doctor stepped out and promised to be back shortly, but this baby wanted out and that's what she did, under her own direction and she was delivered by an RN who was in the room with me!
• Baby was big and bumped around a bit on the way out, which left a bruise on her head. This lead to hyperbilirubinemia (AKA jaundice AKA yellowing of skin), as her liver is not yet mature to process those red blood cells. She's been watched closely and her levels are improving, which will mean she doesn't need any additional therapy other than very frequent feeds to make sure her systems are working efficiently.
• I was discharged to come home from the hospital on Wednesday. A couple of hours after getting home, dad's pain returned and seemed worse. I insisted mom take him to the ER and assured her that we were fine on our own at home. Sure enough, he had a kidney stone, which necessitated hospitalization and surgery on Thursday. Surgery was a success and he seems to be on the mend. We're expecting him home later today or tomorrow morning!
• Today, we went to her pediatrician visit and learned that baby girl's bilirubin levels are still elevated, but trending down, which is good news. However, on physical exam, we learned that she has a broken left clavicle (collarbone)! It wasn't picked up by the NP at the hospital and her doc doesn't think it's severe, but another thing to watch. Doc wasn't surprised given the size of baby and said it's quite common and not painful for baby.

BREATHE! Somehow we're keeping it all together. Sorry for the novel summary. Please keep us all in your prayers. My mom is a rockstar :) Cora is pretty darn patient and going with the flow well. I feel like I'm still in a daze, to be honest!

some introductions

baby girl Madea (we promise to have a name soon!!)

talking to her daddy in Afghanistan, shortly after delivery

(I think he was singing "stolatz" to her, which means "long life")

a little peek

Cora applauding her arrival (after pointing to my belly and asking if baby was still inside)

reaching out for little sister

counting toes

patting her sister

giving kisses

3 generation shot

Sofu singing lullaby

SHE is here!

We welcomed Baby Girl Madea into the world at 7:25 pm on 6/6/11. The labor was very hard but not too long thankfully, the delivery pretty wild and the product just beautiful :) Feeling good and resting now. Daddy was not able to Skype due to technical/connection problems, but he was on the phone in minutes and was able to hear his little girl's lungs at work! We're still unsure of a name... but we can share she's 8 lb 15.4 oz and 21 inches long. (I guess that makes her Big'r M!) We're very eager to introduce big sister Cora today. Stay tuned for many, many more pictures, I'm sure!

during her first bath

Ready for Lil'r M

Well, it's been decided to augment my labor and get this not-so-lil one born! Planning for a 6-6-2011 birthday with Daddy there virtually via Skype :) We promise to share the news when it comes...

At his destination!

Greg called me today from his office (!) and, after a whole week of transit, he's made it to Camp Eggers, which is located in Kabul, Afghanistan. He sounded good and relieved to be "there." Apparently the weather is much more pleasant there than Kuwait. He already enjoyed an Afghani meal and has met many of his colleagues.

About an hour before this phone call I started to feel regular contractions. This baby knew to hold on for daddy! Of course, no arrival yet, but I think we're getting closer. After my regular doctor's appointment, I joined Cora at the park for a swing and even took the dogs for a nice vigorous walk. Here's hoping for natural labor this weekend when Greg can be there via Skype and no induction for me!

Promise to keep everyone posted!

Cora and Sofu plant a garden

What an experiment this will be! Cora helped dad (kinda) section off a portion of yard to grow a garden this summer. This is aside from the adults' heirloom tomatoes and red and yellow peppers and herbs. They will be trying to grow lettuce, green beans, watermelon and pumpkins from seed. Thus far, Cora most loves the water (either from hose or her watering can) and stomping the dirt. You can imagine the need for more regular baths! Thankfully she never goes out without her rainboots on :) We'll see if she keeps up with the daily watering regimen needed!?!

scoping out the spot

Sofu discussing the importance of proper spacing and depth for optimal bean growth...

trying to get some of the water from her can on the newly planted seeds

ooh the big watering can is MUCH more fun!

naw, playing with the shovel in the dirt is WAYYY better than planting seeds!

Finn happily supervising from the patio