Hard to choose pictures!!

Hello! Haley Bug is the sweetest little thing! We are enjoying having a little bitty one again so much. We took her to church for the first time yesterday, and of course...she looked adorable. This was her outfit. She had on a little purple halter dress. Too cute!


Scottie FINALLY finished their playground outside. He advises everyone to pay WHATEVER Home Depot wants to put this together for you. It took him way longer than the box said. Even poor little Luke was brutally honest. One night, he just looked at his Daddy and said, "You know Daddy, you just don't build things very well." Brady absolutely loves his car swing, and he doesn't want to come inside when playtime is over.

OK...the traditional "naked" shot, right? I don't know what it is, but I seem to have the HAIRIEST kids!! Haley is covered with hair, and I remember Katie being that way too. (Mom says I was like that, though. And, I promise, I don't still look like a gorilla...so I guess it goes away!)

Have you ever seen two more mischievious looking boys? But what cuties...huh? Brady is "finding himself", let's just say...He's funny! "Into everything" is definitely an understatement! Some people would probably say it is because of the new baby. But, I don't think so. I think it is just his age. If you've ever had a boy around a year and a half, you'll know what I'm talking about. One of the most common phrases around here now is, "Son...get out of the toilet!!" And Luke is still wide open constantly. I would love to steal a little of his energy.

Katie and mini-me...We were looking at some pictures of Katie hanging on the wall upstairs from right after she was born. The likeness is unreal. I'll have to find some to scan and post with Haley's pictures here. I didn't have a digital camera then, but I'm sure I can scan one to post. You just won't believe it...

This little one is also known as "Linus". He loves this blanket so much. He calls it his "night-night". We are big believers in blankets. Katie called hers a cuddly, which was what we called it. We tried that for Luke too, but he ended up calling it a ronnie. I have no idea where that came from. Now, Brady has a special name for his blanket too. I think he probably loves his the most out of all of them. Katie and Luke just really wanted theirs to go to sleep. Brady can be found dragging his around a lot. Right now, it doesn't really bother me. I just think we need to be sure it's gone before Kindergarten. Does the book "Owen" come to mind? If you haven't read it, that's exactly what it's about...a little boy's mom has to cut up his blanket so he can take a little square to school with him.

Another one of my favorites! There is an older post where I shared a picture of Luke laying looking at Brady like this when he was just a few days old. These are some of the sweetest times, I know.

And finally, Katie shows her true colors! She'll probably kill me for sharing this picture, but I think it's great! They just love to be goofy and have fun. Isn't that really what childhood is all about?

Lots of love, Kelley

Busy busy days!

I can't believe it has taken me this long to update! It seems like every time I sit down to do anything on the computer, I barely get my e-mail checked before someone needs something. There are times where I think Haley would eat 24/7 if possible. She also just likes to be held, and I guess I'm guilty. She's so cuddly and cute. And...Brady still loves to be held too. So, I'm getting to do double duty on baby-loving. You know the Trace Atkins song..."You're Gonna Miss This"...Well, it seems like my motto now. Everytime I feel the slightest bit TOO busy, I just think about the fact that one day I'll wish I had all this again. I'll wish I had two babies in my lap at one time, that I had two older ones running around playing one minute and fussing the next, and that I had toys on the floor again not five minutes after I've picked them up.

People continually tell me they don't know how I do it with four kids. I just don't feel like it's that many. I feel like my family is complete now....a baby girl and a big girl, a baby boy and a big boy. And, I can't sing Scottie's praises enough. He is so great around here. He helps with baths, and he is amazing when it comes to helping around the house. Also, Katie and Luke are getting in on the action with carrying their fair share of the load. They have been helping with laundry and cleaning upstairs. Even Brady is great to clean up toys. He keeps saying "neen up, neen up..." It's so cute, and he really does a good job any time you ask him to.

Now for a few pictures...I finally put the pictures from Mom's memory card on my computer, so I'll share a few of them. I'm prejudice, but they are cute!

Here is the follow up picture to the one I posted earlier. The look on his face priceless! I love watching him with all of the kids. He's the most amazing man God could have given me as the father of my children. (I know...mush, mush...remember, I'm still hormonal!)

The kids when they first came into the hospital room...One of the first things Luke wanted to do was see my tummy. How sweet!




Katie and Brady at Bible School commencement.... They had a great time on the slide!


There is no question that Luke had fun!! Check out the expression on his face...

Softball is over, but I had to share this picture. I told you she was good, huh?

OK...I'm now typing with one hand because Brady has climbed up in my lap and gone to sleep. At least I almost got finished with my update! Thanks for checking on us, and Katie says thanks for the comments.

Lots of love, Kelley

Finally feeling good again...

Well...the epidural wasn't all it was cracked up to be for me!!! I would have done much better just gritting out three hours of labor like I did with the boys. I mentioned before that I had a headache. That was putting it mildly. I haven't really been able to do ANYTHING since Saturday without being in severe pain when I sit or stand. As it turns out, I've had a spinal cord leak...and my brain was "sagging" causing a pressure headache.

Yesterday, I ended up being sent to the ER by my OB. There, an anesthesiologist repaired the spinal leak by doing TWO MORE lumbar punctures and placing 30 cc of my own blood into my spine. What fun, right? I was told I'd be trading a headache for a backache, but that is much easier to deal with. I feel like myself again!!! My head has never hurt like that in all my life. I know everyone around me will be glad that I am alive again.

It doesn't happen with everyone who gets an epidural, and if I was one to lay there for 10 or 20 hours, it probably would have still been worth it. I just don't have long or hard enough labor to want to EVER go through that again. Not that I'm planning more children...I feel like my family is complete. God has blessed us with four healthy little boogers. And, as Scottie told someone the other night, life is about to get INTERESTING!!! Brady is just at the age to get into everything, and he is having to learn all about this new baby. He doesn't know yet what is OK and not OK. He'll learn though, I have faith...I think!

Lots of love, Kelley

Wow...what a new blessing!

I can't tell you how blessed we continue to be. Haley fits in just perfectly with our little family. I will say...WOW!!!! I HAVE 4 kids!!! I'm having to learn how to do my daily routine while fitting in one more. The hardest thing is just that Brady is still a baby himself. I love it though...I wouldn't take ANYTHING for this.

OK...now for the birth story. They put me in Friday to break my water and get things going. We got there at 7:30, and got into a room soon after that. The first IV they did blew my arm up like Popeye. It was gross! So, they took it out and tried two other places that didn't work. We had to wait on the charge nurse to come try another one. They didn't get it all done until 11:30. Then, I had to get in 2 hours of the antibiotic before they would break my water. This was to avoid her potentially getting the Group B Strep like Luke had. (Even though it was a pain and took forever, I appreciate them caring that much.) So, they broke my water at 1:30. I started having contractions right away, and they went ahead and did my epidural. As always with me, things went much quicker than they expected. She wasn't due to check me again, but did anyway and I was at a 10. I pushed with 2 contractions and she was born! Amazingly, Haley was face-up just like Katie had been. That was the reason Katie Bug was c-section. But, we were able to have Haley with no trouble. They couldn't even believe she didn't look more beaten and banged. Usually babies who are born like that are really put through the ringer. She was beautiful! (I'm partial, I know...)

The other kids were actually at the hospital, and they were able to come in when she was only about 30 minutes old. I wish I had a picture of Luke's face when he first walked into the room. It was priceless. Brady didn't really know what to think, and he kept saying "I want baby...I want baby..." But, when she would cry, so would he. Katie drove us crazy to hold her immediately, which she still does even now at home. She is just so sweet with all the little ones.

We came home yesterday, and I feel great except for a HORRIBLE headache. I know this is a side effect of the epidural, so it definitely had its drawbacks. I guess it's a matter of hurt then, or hurt later. If I had 12 or 18 hours of labor, the headache would be well worth it.

OK...now for some pictures. Hope you enjoy!

This might just be my favorite picture ever...have you ever seen a sweeter face on a daddy?

A little oxygen to help her get pink. She looked a little purple when she was born, but the oxygen pinked her up just fine. Her Apgar scores were both 9, so she was perfectly healthy!

The kids had the cutest "big brother" and "big sister" shirts! They were so excited and proud.

Lots of love, Kelley

She's Here!!!

Welcome Haley!!!

8lbs, 4:44 pm, June 13, 2008

I promise a better update soon! We're both doing well...

Lots of love, Kelley

No baby yet...

Well, you've heard the phrase "hurry up and wait", right? Well, it seems I'm living the "wait and then hurry up" side of life.
They were so concerned that I had dialated too far too early, and I was directed to take it easy. Now, I would like for him to take her Friday, and he says I have to progress a little farther if he can safely do that! According to Dr. Connor, I'm not quite at a 4 yet...and he wants me there before he will break my water. I know they all judge a little differently, but it's still frustrating since I thought I was already there.

So, the plan stands at this: I am "on the books" at the hospital for this Friday. But, I have to go back to him on Thursday to see if there has been any change. As of today, I had thinned a little more, and she is lower. However, I haven't dialated anymore, and that is what he wants to see. I can't be "induced" due to a previous c-section with Katie. The only thing they can do is put me in and break my water. That got things going just fine with Brady. Keep your fingers crossed that I have progressed at least a little on Thursday. I told Scottie that he might get his wish....he keeps saying I need to walk our driveway. For those of you who haven't seen it, I think I would die if I tried!!!

Thanks for reading!
Lots of love, Kelley

Still hanging in...

I went back to the doctor today, and there has been no change. So, I guess that means I've been doing a good job of taking it "easy". It's hard not to when you have such caring loving people telling you to "sit down!".

The ultrasound showed her to be 1 oz shy of 8 pounds, so she's definitely still on her way to being big. They won't do anything to "help" me have her for at least another week and a half or so, BUT...he said I didn't have to take it easy anymore. If she comes on her own now, it will be fine. So, I'm back to doing my normal stuff. I still have contractions galore when I'm up, but maybe that will help things along. Hopefully, when I go back on Monday, I'll be at 5 or 6 and more thinned. Then, they will HAVE to do something!!! (I hope, anyway...)

The kids are as excited as they can possibly be, and I think Luke has kissed my tummy 8,000 times this week telling her that he loves her. Katie still says "her baby", and says she'll change all the T-T diapers. Brady doesn't really know what to think, but he does pick up her stuff and say "baby, baby". I think he's getting the picture, slowly.

Thanks for reading, and hopefully we'll have some good news to share soon!

Lots of love, Kelley