Hospital Highlights

Pictures say it best. Here's a quick recap of our first few days and nights at Kennestone.

I'm glad I can look back on this photo and laugh at my fake smile. Luckily Landon snapped this in between the very painful 5 minute apart contractions. This go around, I had to experience these intense contractions without an epidural as I awaited my spinal before surgery. An emergency c-section bumped us back 1 whole hour. I intently stared at the clock every five minutes until 8:00 pm wondering if I really could make it! SO much for strolling in pain free for my scheduled section.

Moments after Elizabeth Katherine made her screaming entrance into the world. This time, I was totally aware and felt undrugged to soak in every moment. At first glance at Eliza Kate, I immediately knew she was ours as she closely resembles Miller at birth. I was relieved to know that it really was a GIRL!! All of pink decorations were not in vain.

Eliza Kate did not like getting cleaned off. We anxiously awaited her stats. Landon asked the doctor 5 and 5? He was really wondering if she had five fingers on each hand and 5 toes on each foot. I misunderstood and thought this was her birth weight. I knew this girl had to be at least 7 pounds. At 7 pounds 6 ounces, she weighed 1 more ounce than her big bro at birth.

C-section moms can relate to the flurry of activity in the OR. There is a whole army full of people there working on you, and waiting on the baby. They let Landon film the entire event over the curtain! Landon's whole get-up cracks me up with the mask. He looked just like his dad in scrubs.

One of the most special parts about Eliza Kate's birthday, is that both sets of grandparents made it just in time to the hospital. We gave Landon's parents a four hour notice to drive down from Knoxville and we managed to find a neighbor to babysit Miller as he slept. Right as they wheeled me out of the OR with our new pink and blue swaddled babe on my chest, we spotted Landon's parents waiting on us at the end of the hallway. Then my parents arrived just as we got to our room. Perfect timing! The whole family stood around watching Eliza Kate's first bath as I looked on from the bed.

Landon is so happy to finally have his girl. This is the first of many father, daugher shots. Eliza Kate has him wrapped around her little finger already.

On Thursday, Big brother Miller came to the hospital to greet his new baby sis. He was bursting with excitement to hug and kiss the baby. He crawled right up onto the bed and said, "Hi, Eliza Kate". We were quickly reassured that he'll do just fine sharing the attention with our newest member. Miller even got to hold the little miss with assistance. He loves her so much, I'm afraid he might squish her. Can you spot her tiny head above his grasp? This photo warms my heart. He's in love already.

I was so proud of big brother's adaptability at the hospital...coming and going with Omi and Papa without a fuss. He would kiss me before he left each time and say, "Bye mom, see you later." Who knew my heart could love my two babies just the same?

After 3 long nights, in the hospital without much sleep at all, it was time to go home. No one can sleep in the hospital when they're constantly checking your blood pressure, temperature and checking in on the baby. It's an open door policy for nurses and the techs 24/7 with little regard to your sleep. Exhaustion hit me by day 2. Between welcoming family and visitors and healing from surgery, this momma wanted her own bed. We were more than ready to take Eliza Kate home.

Here's our little girl all dressed up in her going home smocked dress and much too big bonnet all ready for the big trek home. She woke up just in time to take in the sights and sounds outside of our room.

I forgot how little a newbie looks in the car seat. It swallowed her whole. EK looked so tiny all squished up in there. I love how her legs criss cross right underneath her with her feet crossed. She sits in the same cramped position as she was in the womb.

One last picture, before leaving the hospital. We have an almost identical picture of this with Miller. We're so thankful for our girl! Thank you Tracy for making and delivering our cutey sign.

Soon after, an assistant came with a wheel chair to wheel me out to the car. She was a little annoyed that I was standing by the door. I guess she thought I should still be in bed? If she could have only seen me climbing stairs slowly the next day.

Hope you enjoyed our little hospital tour. I wanted to record all the little details for posterity sake.

Our Girl is Here!

Our family is ecstatic to announce the birth of sweet Miss Elizabeth Katherine Fokens on Tuesday, April 21st 2010 at 8:34 p.m. Eliza Kate weighed in at 7 pounds 6 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. We're praising God who knew Elizabeth Katherine even before she was born for a healthy, beautiful baby girl!

Miss EK has a mind of her own and decided to pick her own birthday two weeks from her due date. She likes to be early just like her mommy.

Ten LONG fingers and ten LONG toes. We love everything from your jet black hair, heart shaped lips, facial expressions and even your furrowed brow like you're in deep thought. Mommy and daddy study you when you're sleeping ALL day long. You're precious to our family.

More details and hospital highlights to follow once we adjust to our new life as a family of four.

Eliza Kate's Sprinkle

Sprinkled with pink and an afternoon tea is such a beautiful way to welcome a little girl into the world. Mandy threw a fabulous baby sprinkle at Mittie's Tea Room in Roswell this past Sunday to celebrate Eliza Kate's impending arrival. It was such an unexpected surprise to be given showers for baby number 2. I guess having a different gender this time, a girl was the reason for all the frilly fuss.

Now Sprinkles are supposed to be stress free baby showers for second time moms, but Mandy outdid herself and it turned out to be more like a shower. I can't think of a better way to spend my afternoon than with my friends enjoying a girly lunch. I can only envision doing this with Eliza Kate one day. Oh, I just can't wait!

The table was so pretty with pink roses in bud vases. Paula so graciously joined in on the decorating fun by bringing the cutest tea bag favors with Eliza Kate's name on them. What a surprise! Thank you girls for making our second baby feel special and unique. It was a lot of fun to stock Eliza Kate's closet and drawers with more goodies. I wish I had more room in this post to show all the cutey dresses, bibs, burp cloths and more.

But more than the goodies, it made me appreciate my girlfriends and their outpouring of love on the new little miss. It's so nice to have such wonderful friends to share in this most special season of mommyhood.

38 Weeks: False Alarm

It all started at work today during the final jaunt of CRCT testing, when I felt the first wave of pain all across my lower back. Since I was watching the clock anyway because my girl had extended time, I began jotting down the contractions....12 minutes, 10 minutes, 8 minutes. Here I am in a small testing closet, eyeing her bubbling marks wondering if this could be the real thing.
I made it to break, where I gracefully departed from school trying not to make a huge scene all the while knowing this most likely was only a false alarm. As I laid on the couch for the next few hours, the contractions grew stronger and closer together, about 8 minutes apart. With no water breaking, it's just hard to tell if this was true labor. Meanwhile, Landon's jetting home from an appointment calling every 10 minutes for the update.

After an early afternoon checkup with Dr. Huffman, we determined it was indeed not active labor. She said these 8 minute contractions could go on for days until any progress is made..ughh! We're hoping this is not the case. With visions of Father of the Bride 2 in mind, I now can relate to women who go into the hospital only to be turned away. So much for strolling in on April 29th fresh faced, wide eyed, and alert the morning of my c-section. I haven't given up hope for that yet. If anything, we're even more prepared than ever to welcome sweet Eliza Kate into our family.

Of course we snapped the traditional picture before leaving for the doctor's office. In Miller's shot, I had my bags all packed next to me. I'll be taking another one, when it's the real deal. Here's to a peaceful night of sleep with no false alarms!

37 Weeks: Counting Down

Woah momma, we've made it this far and the countdown is on for Eliza Kate. All I have to say is we've come a long way baby! We got a lot accomplished with the nursery over Spring Break. The pillow table cloth, and bedding have all arrived. We hung some accessories and her initials over the bed, and Miller has officially moved out of the pink room into his big boy room. Wa-lah the nursery is finished except for a few accessories and photos on one wall to be added later. I'll post pictures soon.

I've been busy washing, cleaning and folding all her newborn things. Landon and I enjoyed a shopping trip to Target and Babies R Us for some last minute items including a new pack n' play. We decided against the cutey pink one just in case another boy is in our future. I also ordered EK's going home outfit. This baby girl already has more bows on her ribbon holder than outfits in her closet.

It was quite a productive week. I just completed a few pages in Eliza Kate's baby book because I know my days and nights will run together in just a few weeks. Her newborn session is scheduled. My checklist is nearing completion. Now she has permission to join our family whenever she wants. We just have to pack our bags.

I've been busy chasing Miller out of EK's room where he wants to climb into her crib which was formally his...do ya blame him? Keeping him out of the set up pack and play is another challenge. It's not set up for a toddler anymore and I'm afraid the bassinet might just break with the weight of his 34lb body. His hands are everywhere they shouldn't be...into her drawers, dolls etc. I've got to shape this boy up before we have a newborn around here. He's really testing me. I think he senses the change that's about to happen.

I had my second to last prenatal appointment today which included signing all the paperwork to allow for a c-section. I didn't have time to read the small print last time in a half drugged state with so much commotion in the room. The forms include all the possible risks to the mom. I guess this surgery really IS a big deal.

Eliza Kate has really dropped and I am measuring about a week ahead. I didn't have all the lower pressure walking around with Miller. Sometimes, I swear she's just going to fall right out! Between tap dancing on my bladder and squirming near my ribs, sweet EK is wearing out her welcome. I'm still taking naps everyday which I'm convinced has helped my ankles and feet not swell. Landon has been a huge help in the evenings by bathing Miller in addition to the weekly grocery shopping and cooking. This allows me to continue working my half days. God has been so good to us with another complication free pregnancy so far that allows me to keep on keeping on with our normal schedule.

We're enjoying our last days as a family of three, savoring our full nights of rest and taking special little outings together. Just like life before Miller is a blur, I'm sure the feeling of just having one kiddo will start to dwindle. We'll have to adjust to a "new normal" a wonderful normal. We can't wait to meet you baby girl!

Tickled Pink

Miss Eliza Kate has been celebrated over the last two months with all things pink. Our Sunday School class always has a "girl's night" in honor of second babies. We all met up at Zucca for a fun Thursday night out sans kiddos. Our girl talk consisted mainly of talking about our kids, but they weren't there to distract us. It was so exciting and yet strange to open a sea of pink tissue papered packages. I quickly learned that it's all about accessorizing this sweet baby bundle with ribbons, bows, flowers and flowered hats. There is a definite learning curve adjusting from a "boy mom" for three years to the land of girls. We feel so blessed to lead a wonderful group of young adults and cherish the old and new friendships in our class. Wish that I remembered to get a group shot of everyone. We were too "wrapped up" in packages and chatter on our big evening out.

At the end of March, my second grade team at Keheley hosted a really special shower at school. What a surprise! I started my teaching career at Keheley nine years ago. These ladies have so graciously celebrated all of my different life stages throughout the years. There were lots of oohs and ahhs over more girly things. EK will be excited to play with her new Stella doll complete with a magnetic pacifier. My co-teacher, Susan knows all about little girl toys and has taught me a lot about the joys of little girls over the months. I was also surprised to open a hand smocked dress for miss priss. I'm in awe of hand created gifts. I wish my little lady could have been in attendance to see just how loved she is. I'm so thankful for my friends at work. It truly is like a family.

A big thank you to such generous friends!

Easter Sunday

                           Our last Easter Sunday as a Party of Three

Happy Easter! He is Risen!

Grandmama and Poppy joined us for Easter Sunday morning worship at our church. We were excited to have them with us, as my mom directs Little K at her church and can hardly get a Sunday off. Miller was thrilled that Grandmama and Poppy were coming to "our church". He loved showing them around the preschool department and introducing him to Miss Sandy and Miss Keisha. They loved seeing Miller march right into his room never looking back. Miller was pumped for the egg races! He always has a story when we pick him up involving the morning's activities or lesson.



We delayed the Easter Basket fun until after church. I learned my lesson last year after rushing him through the basket fun! Miller was excited and told us that the Easter bunny hopped all the way to his house to deliver the basket. It's funny how the bunny knew Miller wanted Lightening McQueen underwear, and Matchbox cars. I can only imagine that he pictured his daddy in that suit hopping to his front door to deliver the basket.



                               
                      Miller loved his sports themed eggs filled with candy


Grandmama & Poppy hosted Easter dinner at their house complete with cutey cupcakes and another egg hunt all over the house to find 12 Veggie Tale eggs.

The Great Hunt

It's always a mystery to me why Miller is petrified of Santa, but totally enthralled by the furry haired Easter bunny. This bond was evident today at our annual neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt. Miller could not stop staring, patting and smiling at Mr. Rabbit. I don't think he realized other anxious kiddos were waiting their turn in line to meet and greet.




This was no ordinary Easter bunny. He bunny hopped in full costume, did the mac arena, and danced his was to the backyard for all the hunting fun. He hugged many necks, posed through many photos, and patted lots of heads.





The mad dash in the back yard is always the best part of the hunt. Miller collected a grand total of four eggs this year. That's three more than last year! Best of all, he found a golden egg with cash stuffed inside. Way to go Miller!





Did I mention that the Easter bunny was no ordinary bunny? Guess who! It's Landon beneath all that fur. He stepped up to the plate early this morning to don the infamous costume. Since he didn't talk throughout the whole party, Miller had no clue just who was under that suit. Landon hopped all the way back up the street in full costume back to the house and rejoined all the fun at the end. What a FUN daddy!

On his way out, while Miller was napping...I twisted his furry bunny arm for this shot! A memory for years to come.

Taking Flight

We're on the birthday train around here in April! Today's party was a double feature for Jack and Sophia's 3rd birthday. Miller was excited to see some of his friends and watch all the airplanes at Peachtree Dekalb Airport's park. The party was under a hangar complete with picnic tables. Miller loves cake time! And, it was soo cute watching Jack and Sophia blow out their candles in unison. They were precious in their matching pink and blue airplane shirts.



Check out Miller and Caroline tackling the largest, jumbo sized cupcakes you've ever seen in your life. Chocolate frosting was smeared all over Miller's shirt and shorts for the rest of the party.

These two cuties are buds from Miss Karen's house. They act like a brother and sister most of the time. Caroline keeps Miller in line with her mommying instincts.


Happy, Happy 3rd Birthday Jack and Sophia. We loved celebrating with you today!