HOLIDAYS

What a busy month it has been. I always miss the holidays once they pass, but this year, I almost feel relieved. It has been non-stop since November 16th when Drake was born! It has been great, but exhausting. Christmas is so fun at our house right now. I knew we were in for it when the older four all woke up at 6:30 AM on Christmas EVE morning! They were just so excited. This year was particularly busy because Drew and Dawsyn participated in the community choir and sang in the Christmas Cantata. Drew even played "Silent Night" on the piano and Dawsyn and her Dad sang "The Christmas Shoes" before the Cantata started. It was wonderful, and there wasn't a dry eye in the place. We had parties with our friends--we even let the kids have a party with their good friends, Kaylor, Isabella, Madison, and Braden, and then all of them spent the night! There were nine kids spread across our living room floor! Our house really isn't as big as it seems at times. On Christmas Eve morning, the kids opened their 3 gifts from us, then we did our usual--baked cookies for Santa, put baby Jesus in the manger, scattered Reindeer food on the front lawn, and then went to my parents house for lunch and presents. I must say the highlight was when my dad opened his gift from Delaney. I love seeing what the kids pick out for their family members at the "secret Santa" shop at school, and then trying to interpret what it really means--For instance, Grandpa Chuck and Grandpa Carl both recieved deoderant and chapstick from Delaney. According to my Dad, this must mean she thinks their kisses are rough and they smell! We went to church on Christmas Eve, which is what really makes it feel like Christmas to me. Drew and Dawsyn were in the youth choir this year and did wonderfully. Drew sang a solo and, even though he was incredibly nervous, he did great! After mass, it was off to Shawn's parents for dessert and more presents. It was really fun for the kids now that their only cousin, Caroline, is starting to get into playing with them. Next Christmas there will be another little girl cousin to play with because Shawn's brother and his wife found out that they are having another little girl in May! We then went home and put the kids to bed. Shawn and I were up until 1:00 AM doing things parents must do on Christmas Eve. The kids were up by 6:30 and because they are all a little bit older, presents were opened, wrap was cleaned up, and everything straightened under the tree by 9:00 AM. We had a great day, but were truly exhausted by the evening. New Year's Eve came quickly (even though everyone had their turn with the stomach flu during the week between the holidays) and we were ready to go at midnight with bubble wrap to jump on. That brings us to yesterday, when we opened our fortune cookies, and read through our memory box for the year. Another year over. Shawn and I both commented that last year on New Year's Drake wasn't even a thought to us. We were so sure we were done. It is amazing how things can change in one year. Hopefully, they continue to change for the better! We ended the season by writing our prayers for 2010. Dawsyn wants to be famous, Drew wants to not get so nervous, Delaney wants a puppy, Dax wants to marry Grammy, Drake just wants to learn to do everything, and Shawn and I both want the kids to have a safe, healthy, successfull year. We are starting it in the best way by having Drake baptized today and then Monday, the regular routine returns. That's when I'll need prayers! ;)

The difference

I have realized a few things over the last 3 weeks. The difference between your first child and your fifth...with your first child, you lay around after the birth feeling so exhausted and almost sorry for yourself--as if you want the whole world to know how life-changing this has been and how you will never be a real person again! With the fifth, you just get over yourself --and very quickly--not only do you not worry about being a real person again, you have long forgotten what a real person really is! With the first, you spend hours looking at their tiny hands, feet, and just overall admire every little inch of them. With the fifth, you are so thankful to be nursing because if it wasn't for these precious moments with the baby, you are sure you wouldn't recognize them in a police line-up! With the first, you use Dreft laundry detergent, wash their clothes separately from everyone else, and fold each little article of clothing so specifically so it will stay cute and fresh in the drawer. The fifth probably will never even have their own dresser. With the first, you change their clothes numerous times to get them in each cute little outfit and you take their picture in each one. By the time you get to the fifth, you have such appreciation for those little gowns that make middle of the night diaper changes so easy, that you might even keep them in the same one for a few days! Our first child was sung to and read picture books, and taught the alphabet, got appropriate "tummy time", etc. Our fifth child is learning all about 1st and 2nd grade homework, could write a paper on World War II propaganda after attending my History Classes with me, and probably thinks "Dax-no!" is something that must be said to leave the house every day--hopefully he'll pick up his alphabet somewhere in there!
However, there are some things that stay the same with the first and the fifth. I have a picture of "Daddy and baby both sleeping on couch" for each one of my kids. There has never been a picture of "Mommy and baby both sleeping". This could be for a few reasons..1. Mommy takes all pictures because Daddy just forgets we have a camera. 2. Daddy never takes pictures because he secretly doesn't enjoy these early days and feels no need to remember them. 3. Mommy takes so long to get her body back and has traditionally had such a bad case of "post-partum camera distress" that in all of my children's photo albums it appears that they spent the first 3 months being raised by their father and a series of teddy bears. Finally, and probably most likely, Mommy NEVER sleeps! Another similarity between numbers 1 and 5 is that you still can't believe the gift you were given and the miracle each child is.
Today, a lady at church said, "Are you back to work yet?" I reminded her that Drake was only 3 weeks old. She acted surprised and said, well you just seem to be doing so well, I figured you were back to teaching. Back to work after 3 weeks???? Doesn't it take longer than that to cure a ham???? I really think, as a society, we expect way to much out of women! Ok--maybe I do still feel a teeny-tiny bit sorry for myself, maybe I'll reflect on that next time I have a minute or two to myself! Ha! Even in this "all work, no reward" stage--he is worth it, but I am hoping to see a smile soon!

Thanksgiving

We had a nice Thanksgiving with our families. The kids really enjoyed themselves and I even managed to get all of my CHristmas decorations out over the weekend. However, the real test begins tomorrow when Shawn goes back to work! The hardest part seems to be getting everyone where they need to be, especially since the doctor still hasn't said I could drive so we are relying on Aunt Emily and Aunt Cassie a lot. It is amazing to me how two weeks ago it seemed so odd to add another member to our family and calling this new person "Drake" seemed unnatural. Yet we already couldn't imagine life without him. It reminds me of a quote I once read that said, "Someone said that you can't love your fifth child as much as your first... but someone never had five children". So far, he seems to be a very easy-going baby. He reminds me a lot of Delaney's personality when she was a baby, but he looks a lot like Dawsyn. The kids are already Christmas Crazy!!!! So, the next few weeks are going to be constant commotion around here. I can't imagine what Christmas is like for people without kids. I bet it is a lot calmer, but probably not nearly as interesting. I am doing well, I just really start to crash around 8:00 every night. I try to stay up until around 10:00 to feed Drake and most nights he makes it to 3 or 4 before he needs to eat again, so I really can't complain. He still isn't back up to birth weight, which surprises me because he only goes two hours between feedings during the day. The good news is that the nursing is really helping me lose the weight, so hopefully that will continue. I also hope to totally get my personality back, I still feel a little out of it at times and my wit certainly isn't back to normal yet, I can't believe how many one-liners I've let get by lately, but I secretly think Shawn is enjoying that aspect of the recovery!

Home and adjusting

We are on our second full day at home. So far, we are doing well. Drake is still on the billirubin blanket for his jaundice. As of today, his levels were still going up, but it looks like he has quit losing weight. So, just like the four before him, hopefully the billi-blanket is on the way out! Dax has been having the most difficult time. He keeps coming over and asking mommy if her belly is sore and can she please have two more babies? (Shawn isn't happy about that!) He wants to help with the baby, but knows that he has to be careful and most of the time, he just looks very confused. One thing he isn't confused on is the pecking order of the house. The first night we were home, he announced, "I'm not the baby anymore! YAY!!!!" Delaney has gone from age 4 to 20 in a matter of days. She really wants to be the big girl--especially when the older two go to school. She wants to help in every possible way. However, she is still as coordinated as a four year old, and is constantly bumping into either mommy or the bassinet! Dawsyn spent the last few weeks before Drake was born saying that she didn't want a baby and this house didn't need a baby and she wasn't going to like this baby anyway and on and on and on... However, she must have forgotten all of this because she has spent the last few days holding Drake every free minute! She runs to him when she gets home from school, she insists on holding him every morning right up until it is time to leave for school and she keeps "smelling" him when she is gone and misses him. She is definitely the mom understudy in the house. Drew has taken to Drake just like all the others, he is very loving, tries to protect him, but acts like he is totally afraid that he is going to "break" him! Poor Drake has already had a baby-sitter. Drew had his 2nd grade music program last night at school. He even got to get up and read a poem. He did great and Mommy just didn't want to miss it, so Grandma Judy and Grandpa Carl babysat so Mommy could go to the program. It was the most uncomfortable hour in a hard metal chair, but the music teacher saved seats for us in the front row so I could get in and out easily. And, of course, it was certainly worth it! Tomorrow's challenge is the Lancaster Christmas parade. Dawsyn is riding her float and Delaney gets to march with her baton class. I am hoping to hobble to a spot long enough to watch the girls go by and then get back home! Thanks to everyone for the cards, emails, and all of the support. It means so much that number five is just as important to everyone as he is to us!

OUR TIE-BREAKER HAS ARRIVED

Drake Michael Edward Adams was born at 8:04 AM on Monday, November 16th. He weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and was 20 1/2 inches long. The surgery went well. I felt pretty good through the surgery and got to see Drake before they took him to the nursery. Once I got to the recovery room, however, I started to feel the oddest pain in my chest and back. The nurses weren't sure what was going on until I told them that I had a horrible metallic taste in my mouth. They then realized that the spinal had gone "up" and I was almost totally numb up to my shoulders. This was a little scary, but once they sat me up and started the pain meds, it slowly faded. I was able to nurse Drake in the recovery room and they soon brought him back to my room once the pediatrician cleared him (he was having trouble with a lot of grunting). At that point, they rolled my bed over to the window and I was able to hold Drake up to the window so the other kids could see him. This was both wonderful and horribly sad at the same time. The other kids are just devastated that they haven't been able to hold him. They cry on the phone to me everynight. We set up a webcam, so they have been able to see and talk to both of us every night, but I know they can't wait until we are home! I am really hoping to go home today. I've never gone home this early, but the doctor has already discharged me, so now we are just waiting on Drake.

Week 38!

So close...
Today is my last day teaching since my c-section is scheduled for Monday. I think we have everything ready. I know that the novelty has definitely worn off at this point! At my last appointment on Wednesday, the doctor did a quick ultrasound because he was a little worried about my fluid level, but there was plenty around the baby. Shawn and I both took Wednesday off so we could go to my last appointment, meet with the people at the hospital (which turned out to be a total disaster) and so I could get some other last minute stuff done. We picked the kids up from school and took them to a nice dinner to celebrate their amazing report cards and parent-teacher conferences. We got very good reports on them. So, now I am too the point that I am just tired, ready, and, of course, scared to death. That is just my personality. Last night I had my conferences for three hours and a lot of people kept telling me that since it was my 5th c-section, at least I knew what to expect. They are right, but that is also a curse because I know EXACTLY what to expect. Last night I even dreamed that I went into the surgery room and they asked me if I wanted a cookie and I ate one and then they told me I couldn't have the surgery because I was supposed to go 12 hours without food or water.
Even though, the kids can't be there at all, we are going to try to make the best of the situation for them. We have it planned so we can take polaroids and no one else will get to know what the baby is until Delaney announces it (at the McDonald's down the street instead of the hospital waiting room). We also have it all set up to do a webcam every day so the kids can see me and know that I am OK. So... we're doing everything we can, I just hope the hospital will cooperate in some small way. Although, based on our meeting Wednesday, I am not counting on anything. I just keep telling myself that this time next week, I should be home, recovering with our entire family, and hopefully a wonderful, healthy baby. Now would be the time to send some prayers our way!

Week 37!

Call Guinness!!!!
This has got to be some sort of record. At my doctor's appointment yesterday, he said I was 3 cm dilated and almost totally effaced, but right now the baby's head is resting on my tailbone so it hasn't engaged yet. Last night, I was up from about 2:30-4:30 with painful contractions off and on--but when I got up to take my shower and get ready for the day at 4:30, they suddenly stopped. As I was leaving yesterday, the doctor said, "I'll see you next Wednesday, if you're still pregnant and that is looking less and less likely!" Yeah right! I'll be there next Wednesday, still touting the huge belly and I'll show up the Monday after that for my scheduled c-section. BOO!!! I so wish I could just go into full labor and have the baby on my own, especially with the hospital saying no one can come visit because of H1N1--not even my other children. The thought of that just makes me nauseous!!!! I was cheered up quite a bit today by my coworkers. They threw a little shower for me and got me a bunch of diapers and wipes and had some really good food. I work with great people--who like to have reasons to celebrate! So, now we are just waiting. I have parent-teacher conferences tonight. After that, I will feel like I have all of the major things out of the way--now just to get baby off the tailbone!!!