Ehh... I tried...

This is how I felt when we were done, too!

Mish Mash/ Miscellany/ Hodge Podge

Lots of Fun Stuff!

I squelched my OCD tendencies and let the kids play with dry oatmeal. They had a blast scooping and shoveling. Jack called it "building sand castles". It kept two busybusy two year olds occupied for almost an hour!

We also played with shaving cream which they found out tastes pretty nasty!

Who needs romantic candlelight and violins when you can make your kids a special Valentine's Day dinner of pink and purple food?

Molly Turns Two!

Molly turned two years old on Feb. 27 and we celebrated her birthday two different ways. Andy had to work on her actual birthday, so I found willing Grandmas to watch Jack and Natalie for an afternoon and Molly and I had a special Girl's Day. Molly woke up to Jack and Mommy singing Happy Birthday, we had special birthday sprinkles in our oatmeal and then we went to church.We took lunch to Andy and Molly got lots of special snuggles from Daddy and then we went shopping!

It's so special to spend one-on-one time with the kids and I'm amazed at how their little personalities emerge when they are by themselves. Molly jabbered my ear off and loved getting a big cookie without having to share. She also got to do her very favorite thing: Play in the water at the sink!

We had her birthday party last night and she had a butterfly cake with a rainbow center. She also got a lot of cute clothes, books, ladybug stuff, Leapfrog puppy, coloring stuff, Veggie Tales stuff, puzzles, and toys. Jack had a blast, too! He ran around yelling "This is so much fun!" over and over again!

Stats and Stuff

Molly's Two Year Stats:

Weight: 31.5 lbs (90th percentile)

Height: 35 inches (90th percentile)

Head: 75 th percentile

The doctor thinks she will be about 5'7'' tall.

Molly also got her first haircut this month. Lots of M&Ms kept her distracted!

Natalie's Two Month Stats:

Weight: 10 lbs. 10 oz. (50th percentile)

Height: 22 inches (50th percentile)

Head: 50th percentile

The doctor thinks it's too early to tell how tall she will be, but if she stays 5oth percentile, she will be around 5'4". I think she will be taller than that.

Natalie is such a good baby! She is sleeping for about 5 hours at night then eats and sleeps again. Some nights are better than others but she's doing just what a two month old should. This month she has started to smile, coo, and roll from belly to back!

Okay, this kid is just stinkin' cute!

Kid-isms (mostly Jackson-isms because he talks more)

Jackson (while watching me pump): "Jack's turn, next?"

***

Molly: "Night night, guys!" "Hi, guys!" "C'mon, guys!"

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Jackson: "Bad dog! No poop in da house!" (we don't even have a dog.)

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Me: "Jack, how are we going to get to Target?"

Jackson: "I no know, Mommy, Target weally far away!"

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Jackson: "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, deres jus someting bout dat name..."

What happened?

(Bill and Keely may not want to read this...it talks about blood)

Timeline written so I remember what happened...(and yes, I'm leaving stuff out that people don't need to know about and that I would rather forget!)

• On Wednesday, I woke up to feed Natalie at 2 am and started to bleed very heavily. I put her in her pack and play and went to the bathroom. I then called Andy to come help me. After calling my mom, we ended up calling 911 to go to the ER. There, they gave me lots of drugs to contract my uterus to stop the bleeding...it seemed to work.

• Thursday, Aunt Ann came to stay with the big kids and Andy and I went and got my iron infusion and then went over to mom's office to get checked out for "peace of mind". While there, my doc decided I needed a minor surgery to make sure I wouldn't bleed again.

• Thursday afternoon, Mom and I (and Natalie) went to the hospital to get settled before my surgery at 5. Andy came back to the hospital and Mom took Natalie home with her. I went in to surgery. After, they decided to keep me overnight since I bled more than they wanted to see in the surgery.

• Thursday evening, I was in my room getting settled and began to bleed again. I was taken back into surgery to have a balloon put into my uterus to tamp off the bleeding. Woke up in recovery in alot of pain but they gave me morphine which helped immensly. Big kids stayed with Bob and Patti and Natalie stayed with Mom and Dad.

• Friday morning, I felt much better. Big kids were with Karen, our sitter, and Natalie was with Aunt Ann.

• Friday afternoon, my doc took the balloon out but I bled some more. There was talk of a hysterectomy, but they decided to wait and see.

• Friday evening, the bleeding was stopping. I receive four units of blood since I was running on empty. I slept and slept and slept. Aunt Ann stayed with the big kids at our house and Natalie stayed with Aunt Carla and Uncle Kurt.

• Saturday morning, I felt great! The bleeding was very little and I had a rosy glow from the blood infusion. We became eager to go home to our kiddos. Big kids were at Mom and Dad's with Uncle Bill and Aunt Steph and Papa. Natalie was with Kurt and Carla, still.

• Saturday night, we were discharged around 6. Natalie stayed with Uncle Kyle and Aunt Keely overnight, and the big kids stayed at our house.

***

Andy and I are very grateful to everyone who very willingly stepped up to help out with our kids while we couldn't be with them. We're so glad they were with people who love them.

Andy did awesome the whole time. It was a difficult experience for him and he paced a million miles this weekend, but he was supportive and did incredibly well with all the blood :)

I'm feeling fine, but trying to take it easy. I'm glad I still have my uterus but am pretty certain this is a sign that we are done having kids. We have three beautiful, healthy children and we are very blessed.

Lastly, thank you to everyone who said a prayer for us during this whole thing. God definitely heard them and answered with healing.

Our Littlest Girl

Natalie Renee Wolfe

born January 7, 2011 at 10:01 am

7 lbs. 10 oz. and 19 inches



She is beautiful, healthy, happy, and so loved!

A Resolution Worth Keeping

In 2011, I am only making one resolution...

I resolve to slow my life down and enjoy the precious moments I have with my little kids. I resolve to cherish every spontaneous snuggle, kiss, and "I wuv you, Mommy". I don't want to get so absorbed in the hustle and bustle of life that I miss watching them grow up.

Goodbye 2010, you've been great!

Welcome 2011 and all the amazing experiences you promise!

Christmas 2010 Highlights

• Andy had to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day which stressed me out, but he was able to go to work on Christmas day from 4 am until 7:30 am, come home and do Christmas with the kids and me, go to my parents' house and then go back to work from 4 until 7. Not too shabby.
• Jackson seemed to understand the excitement of Christmas and that Santa comes and gives presents to good boys and girls. He was excited to meet Santa and then called Santa on Molly's toy phone to say "Hello, Santa? Fank you for my presents!" and we didn't even tell him to.
• I made the Christmas tree kid-proof and I'm glad I did since they were very interested in the ornaments. I also didn't put out my Christmas stars this year for fear that making a little 2010 star would make Natalie come early (her birth would mean that I would make a big Natalie 2010 star and the little 2010 star would be null and void).There is a note in the star box that I didn't make a star this year and will need to make a 2010 star next year.
• My favorite thing this year was making a "special project" with the kids for the Grandmas and Grandpas. The kids painted their handprints onto ornaments and then I turned the fingers into snowmen. Jack LOVED helping with this project and the mess wasn't too bad!
• Andy and I decided not to get each other anything because we're cheap...errm frugal... and are planning on buying a new washer and dryer (maybe tonight!).
• Andy's favorite gift = beer making kit. Stacey's favorite gift = weekend away with no kids (after Natalie sleeps well). Jack's favorite gift = remote controlled tractor from Santa. Molly's favorite gift = all Jack's toys. Natalie's favorite gift = Christmas cookies.
• Both kids loved putting stickers on their Advent calendars each day, watching "A Very Monkey Christmas", going to see Christmas lights, wrapping paper, anything penguins, and the special treats they got (M&Ms, popcorn, etc.).

Overall, Christmas was wonderful and magical and exhausting (especially for 35 week preggo Mommy) and we're already looking forward to next year.

On a baby note, Christmas was my unofficial goal, so Natalie is welcome to arrive anytime!