Baby Isaac Elliott

Yay!! My sister Jackie, and husband Tyler, welcomed 8lb 8oz Isaac into their lives just before 7am on Sunday. I was just giving them time to inform everyone before blurting out the exciting news myself:)

The plan was for a home birth but after stalling at 8cm for a long time (and a lot of Scrabble playing), they went to the hospital at 1am and got some oxytocin to help out. Just before 7am, after about 3 hours of pushing (I think), and two sleepless nights, out came baby Isaac! It was hard for me to not have a clue what was going on after about 9:30pm so I only slept a few hours that night. There are very few people that I worry about to such a degree but obviously my sisters are way up there. I'm looking forward to getting to know my first Dekens nephew! Isaac, you are loved and auntie Louise is ready for another cuddle soon!

{Koen came with me to the hospital to meet baby Isaac (Gary and Kai were at the bball game) and even asked to hold him. We sang `Happy Birthday' to him. It was cute. Koen will be a great big brother! It was pretty busy with all my sisters in there so we didn't stay long and therefore didn't get many pictures.}

Jackie is recovering well and now my heart can relax for a bit before my next nephew is born in April! The number of boys may even out the girls soon enough. You can read my brother-in-law Tyler's thoughts on it here.

Yay for babies:)

Mini Coaches

Today Gary had a tournament, yes, on Sunday. He just finished his previous tournament yesterday. So, we all went as a family so the boys could help `coach' and I could take photos of Gary's team in action.

The boys had a lot of fun cheering `Defense' and stressed me out by wrestling on the bench during the game. Kai liked drawing in the white board too.

Gary's team lost big time....it was not fun to watch. I'm usually quite encouraging but in this case, ya, they have a long ways to go. Looking like another short season, folks:)

What else is new?

Kai has started skating lessons two times a week. Poor guy, it's been a year since he skated last so he's one of the wobbliest in his class. They go much faster and Kai is so competitive that it is so hard for him to be last or second last. But, I truly admire his determination. He just kept getting back up and giving it 100%. Couldn't be prouder. I think it's a great life lesson for him.

Also, Kai is big into watching sports. For example, he gets up at 5:45am to watch sports highlights. We can hear him cheering. He's always asking Gary if they can watch a football, basketball or hockey game together. Doesn't take much for Gary to agree:)

I have the perfect amount of sessions right now at about one per week until I'm 37 weeks pregnant. So perfect for balancing life (boy and home) and work. I love it!

This week I start my prenatal yoga class. I signed up for 10 weeks as I'm hoping it will be beneficial. I'm also hoping it works with Gary's schedule. I'm trying to be much more active this time around (with the other two, I just walked a lot and did some swimming and biking). The reason? I want to be strong for labour, and also, I want it to be an easier process to get back into shape afterwards. Also, I'm hoping it will lead to less discomfort towards the end as I really do not do well in that 9th month. Today Kai and I went for a little run, it felt really weird as it was more of a fast walk/waddle:) The easiest things to do are ride the recumbent bike at home and walk with the kiddos, so that will continue to be my biggest source of exercise. I did three weeks of aquafit with Jackie which was awesome (I slept so well afterwards!) but being that her baby was due 9 days ago, she likely won't be doing aquafit with me in the future!

I believe that next week I can find out what we are having!! I will be 21 weeks along...so excited! Not sure if we will be sharing the info but my sister Jan is adamant that we are having a girl based on the Chinese gender predictor calendar:) I feel really good. Baby is moving a lot more and I love it. I can't wait for the boys to feel it too, they really want to.

Some bad news is that we got an email yesterday saying that the adoption agency we are with has closed down due to financial reasons. I have many different emotions. First off, I am heartbroken for the families that have been waiting to bring their little ones home, some have been waiting years. I think especially of those who are waiting for their first child. There was very little information given but I really hope and pray that they are able to transfer their files (home study, educational component, birth letters etc) to another agency with minimal cost and time involved. I know we still would like the option of adoption after this babe so I will have to look into it this week (if we can transfer our files). If we cannot, I will be pretty upset about the investment we had made (time, money, emotional) and I don't know if we would go through it all again.... I am so thankful that we are pregnant because I don't think I would've handled this news well at all. In fact, it would have broken my heart. At the same time, I feel guilt that we are pregnant and therefore, this does not affect us as much right now.

Totally changing gears here...I just read `Heaven is for real' and I liked it. It takes less than 2 hours to read but it made my heart happy thinking of my mom in heaven with a grandchild (the early miscarriage we had this summer), her dad and brother. If you haven't read it, it's about a 4 year old boy that nearly dies when his appendix ruptures and he says that during the surgery, he went to heaven. It talks about the people he met and also his experience of being with Jesus. Sounds a bit crazy, I know, but I'm glad I read it.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Love, Louise

Party and a Lens

We had Koen's 3rd birthday on his actual birthday. It was hard planning a 3rd birthday because he doesn't really have any friends yet:) So, we just had his 4 girl cousins who are closest in age to him. He wanted a `Space Party' so we decorated star cookies and painted rockets. We also had pancakes and cupcakes:) Koen had fun but it was weird to have such a small party for him.

{My mischievous niece Sami}

Kai gave Koen one of Gary's old basketball trophies and proclaimed that it was a trophy for being the `World's Greatest Little Brother'.

And what else is new?

I'm so thankful that Kai went back to school today! For the first time in his life, I found him annoying this weekend. Isn't that mean to find your child annoying? He will just blab on about the same thing for 20 minutes straight (some Mario game) and will purposely do anything to drive Koen crazy (walk on his toys, take his blankie etc). Also, he bites his nails like crazy. I am not a fan. I made him wear socks on his hands. It was the first time I've ever felt annoyed by him so hopefully a little space will cure that:)

Also, as the end of 2011 approached, we made just a few business purchases as we won't be making many in 2012. Baby is coming in prime photography time (beginning of summer) and we'll likely be making only 40% of what we did this year. So, I bought this antique stroller (which I will use this Thursday for a a newborn session), a laminate `section' for indoor studio photos (in stroller photo), some newborn props, and....a new lens:) We ordered the 85mm f/1.8. I couldn't justify spending an additional $1000.00 for an f/1.2 so hopefully it is as good as all the reviews said! Can't wait for that package to arrive in the mail!

No idea why I'm blogging so much but I have to say that as I make my 2011 photo book, it helps to have everything recorded via the blog. That's how I remember what we did each month of the year.

Went to the TMJ specialist in Chilliwack this morning. Had my mouth splint adapted again but really, it is not hopeful. Once baby is born, he may try another manipulation with anesthetic but likely I will have this forever. Great. I know it could be worse but it is frustrating to be `falling apart' at this age (thyroid and jaw). Truthfully my life isn't much different, besides pain from chewing and having to cut my food up smaller, but I'm worried what the bone on bone will do as I age. Can't be great. Oh well, again, could be worse.

I'm loving this one on one time with Koen again. Yay for school:) Hope you are having a great start to 2012!

Love, Louise

19 Weeks

I am feeling really good. My sciatic pain has gotten much better. I just sort of feel it in my butt when I walk for a long time but it's not painful, just a bit uncomfortable. I'm at the stage where I totally forget I'm pregnant until baby kicks me or I try to bend over. On New Years Eve, the baby kicked or punched so hard that I could see it on the outside for the first time. Gary got to feel it which was cool.

The baby room is painted and the dresser is assembled. Now, we await the gender to finish decorating it. It's looking good!

I haven't been sleeping as well lately which is annoying. It's not that I'm not tired, I almost always feel sleepy at 7pm but then get a second wind and usually head to bed at 11pm. However, I don't fall asleep until midnight or so.

I've been reading a lot of birth books. The plan is a VBA2C unless something comes up in the meantime (placenta previa, breech etc). I know you can deliver breech but that is not something I'm willing to do with a big baby, especially if it has a Kai size head. I'll be seeing the OB on the 23rd so we'll see what he thinks about me doing a VBA2C.

I'm thinking I should do aquafit each week but not sure if I'm motivated or not:) Usually motivation is not a problem for exercise but when it's not as convenient (drive to the pool) it's harder to do.

So far I have gained a total of 7lbs. The reason I haven't gained anything in the last week is because I've just been putting on all the weight I lost with the flu. I know I will be packing on some serious pounds in the last trimester:)

I feel like I've been pregnant for 2 years just because we have waiting for a baby since we started our adoption process in Jan 2010. We are ready and eager to meet this little babe...once he/she is ready:)

Love, Louise

Koen Turns Three!

My baby is three (tomorrow). Wow. I can't imagine our lives without this easy going and mischievous boy. He makes us smile each and every day. Kai and Koen are best buds, playing together all day, although, at least half of that time, they are fighting about something. They wrestle and chase each other and I've learned to not look.

I always find the day before their birthdays the most emotional. Thinking about the day before my life was changed forever...again. Koen loves being with us and trying to be helpful. A song, especially `Jingle Bells' can usually cure most owies (or a kiss from mom). He loves going on errands. He loves eating anything and everything. I cannot think of one food he will not eat. He likes to be the one to pray at every meal. He does not like being interrupted at all. He loves his bunk bed.

{I love this picture of Gary and one week old Koen. It sits beside my computer. He was SO chubby!!}

{These pictures were taken when we went to Boundary Bay to see the Snowy Owls a few days ago.}

Koen is very physical, well, more so than Kai. He needs to jump on people and pull on their shirts to try to pull them down. He loves using markers and colouring with his big brother. He mostly loves to draw about 20 circles on a page.

I'm so thankful for Koen. He just has to flash me those dimples and I melt. Or sing me `Jingle Bells' or `My God Is So Big'. I'm thankful that I still get some really great cuddles out of him.

He is still very attached to his blankie, Bubi. We all love Bubi. Bubi makes him so docile and content. When he sees baby pictures of himself without Bubi, he gets tears in his eyes wondering where his Bubi was when that picture was taken.

If I let him, Koen would watch tv all day (obviously we don't let him!). He gathers about three blankets and four pillows and makes a `sleeping bag' and then he settles in to watch his show. He loves wearing socks to bed.

I look forward to seeing what sort of young man our Kokies will be. I'm thinking he will be a bit more of the `funny guy' with the sweet, sweet heart. Who knows, I'm in no rush to find out. I'm loving where we are at right now.

Koen, I hope you know how much mommy, daddy and Kai love you. We love you so much, forever and ever. You are so sweet and caring, and at the same time, you know how to drive us bonkers in just seconds. Thanks for keeping us on our toes.

Love you, Bubba.

Love, Mommy, Daddy, Kai and Koen

PS We took some photos of him today and you can see them here.

Baby Chapman

Had the ultrasound today! Kai and Koen got to come along and `meet' their little sibling. The baby kept its legs wrapped up tightly so she couldn't get a good look to see if it was a boy or girl, but, the tech said she would record what she thought it was and we'll see in about 3 weeks. The baby spent most of it's time not moving (so different than it's brothers!!) and it's hand up near it's face. We did get to see it swallow and also suck it's thumb (so cute!!!). Kai said it must be his twin due to the thumb sucking. Koen said the picture on the screen looked `yucky' and couldn't understand that it was the baby:)

The tech said the baby is measuring one week off my projected due date of May 28th. Not sure if it's one week smaller or bigger but that is interesting. I've never measured far off at this point. It's always at the end where my babies get so big. I think I will just stick to May 28th as I'm pretty certain of the date of conception:) Looking forward to going over the report and making sure all is well. With each boy, there was something that was off (Kai=renal pelvis in the kidney, Koen=CPC's in the brain) and both were fine. I wish the tech could just tell you everything then and there, oh well, at least she was nice and talked with me the whole time:)

Finally, we are wanting the baby's gender written on a piece of paper and put in an envelope. Then, we are thinking of getting my sister to fill up a box of gender specific coloured balloons and doing something like this:

Or, do you have any other ideas? I'd love to incorporate the boys in it (maybe them popping out of the box or being surprised with us). I know people have done pink/blue cupcakes, pinatas with pink/blue candy...anything other ideas?

I'm 90% certain that it is another boy. I just really want a healthy baby but I'll be honest that part of me would love a little more estrogen/pink in this family. Talking about pink, how sweet is my newest little niece?! I helped give her a bath yesterday and then when Trish took a shower I took just a few pictures of baby Hannah. She is so sweet and little and sleeps so much:) Here she is 4 days old...

Have a wonderful evening.

Love, Louise

PS Snowshoeing yesterday+aquafit last night=tired Louise!

Snowshoeing!

Gary and I have talked about buying snowshoes for years. My dad has 2 pairs and we have borrowed them over the years but they are usually kept up at Green Lake. On boxing day, I found some and decided to just do it. Gary's were regularly $250.00 and I got them for $150.00 and Kai's were just $60.00 (for the best quality ones). Still pricey but I think we will get good use as Kai's are good up at 110lbs on trails.

We decided to go this morning, even though it was super foggy, and I'm glad we did! We went up to Seymour and walked towards to the lake. I wasn't sure how Kai was going to do, he's been a bit all over the place lately. However, he was a superstar! He loved it and was fearless. I was trying to be so cool about it as he would slide down the steep parts on his butt and then even eventually going head first! There are creek beds and ravines everywhere but Gary didn't seem concerned so I went with it:)

We only snowshoed for 30 minutes but that was my goal, I wanted to make sure Kai didn't get too tired of it so that it was still fun.

Looking forward to going again as it's a great snow activity that I can do right now!

PS Ultrasound tomorrow!! Can't wait to see baby Chapman!

Baby Hannah

My little sister is a momma! We always do Christmas Eve with my side of the family and the plan was to meet at 2pm BUT that morning my sister Trish called to say that she was in labour! I went to her house at 10am and the midwife was there. Trish was already 6cm and totally relaxed. By 11:00am she was about 8cm so we went to the hospital....

Maria and I were with her and our role was to support Trish until she was 10cm dilated and then we would leave her with the midwife and Steve to bring baby into this world. I was `allowed' to take a few photos but really, I was there to help her first and foremost.We spent most of our time rubbing Trish's back and her legs and she was so calm the entire time. Every nurse that came in could not believe how relaxed she was. I couldn't believe it either:)

Who smiles like this when 9cm dilated? Not me!!!Trish's legs were getting sore so she started kneeling on the bed. She immediately went to 10cm and was all ready to push!She pushed from 1:30 to 2:30pm. Baby had quite a few decel's (heart rate kept going down and not coming up to baseline) so they were going to vacuum but they got Trish to get baby out quickly. The cord was so tight around her neck that they couldn't remove it so the rest of baby had to come out right away. Not the nicest way to end a beautiful birthing process but baby was safe and sound. Baby Hannah arrived! She cried right away and we were all so happy she was here. She weighed in at a lovely 7lbs 7oz. Fortunately Maria and I were able to stay the entire time as we were all working so well as a team so it was wonderful to witness this baby girl coming into the world. Unfortunately, the rest of our families were waiting for Christmas dinner so Maria and I left around 3pm.

They spent the night in the hospital and went home the next morning. I'm so proud of my sister, she pretty much rocked the whole birth thing! She was just happy to NOT have a C-section:)

Welcome to the world Hannah Joy, we are so happy you are here safe and sound!

Sick

It's 2:30pm and I'm still in bed.  Gary brought me the lap top to keep me occupied:)  Last night we went for dinner at 6:30pm and by 7pm I wasn't feeling too great.  We got home at 8:15pm and that's when it started.  Yikes. So sick.  I was up every 1.5 hours and violently ill  (I'll spare you details but let's just say it was worse than I've ever had in my life).  It sort of reminded me of when I had food poisoning 10 years ago.  I'm so nervous the kids will get it so I'm hoping that by staying away from them all day, and just hanging out in bed, that will help.  I had an incredible amount of pain in my stomach, like a volcano was going off...for 12 hours.  I was worried about the baby getting dehydrated as I lost 5lbs.   However, this afternoon I was able to keep two cups of fluids down.
Anyway, this is not how I envisioned my Christmas holidays.  I'm so thankful that my sisters did not go into labour last night.  I'm so thankful that Gary is home to entertain the monkeys all day.
I'm starting to feel a bit better but my stomach is still so sensitive.   Praying Gary and the boys don't get it.  I can't watch them go through that much pain and also, we would miss the two days of Christmas festivities ahead of us.
I hope you are all much healthier than I am right now and sorry for the gross update.
Love, Louise

Christmas Holidays

What have we been up to?  A whole lot of family time! Yay:)  I now have 2 weeks off of work which is lovely.  I seriously sat on the couch reading for 2 hours yesterday while Gary and the boys made a lovely dinner of Chicken Tikka Marsala and homemade Naan bread.  Yum.  I read, and finished, `Good To A Fault' (6.5/10) and today I'm reading about VBAC's (vaginal birth after C-section):)

I went to my first ever aquafit class yesterday.  It was good.  I didn't love it but I didn't mind it either.  I don't know how much of a work out I got but I was very hungry afterwards so I must've burnt a few calories! I went with my sister, Jackie, which made it way more fun.  The only thing that would prevent me from going back is not having someone to go with and also, I was so cold the whole time.

Had my midwife appointment this morning and took Gary and the boys.  I wanted Gary to at least meet one of the midwives and we thought the boys might like to come to hear the heartbeat.  They did get to hear it (150bpm) and Kai said it sounded like a rope being swung around in the air.  It kind of did.  I was so happy to hear the baby because I hadn't felt any movement in the last week or so.  The kicking should pick up this week.  All is well with me physically (well, besides the sciatica which may be getting better and my jaw which is not pregnancy related) and we'll see baby on the big screen next week! So excited:)

I was happy to hear that I might be delivering at Langley now.  I don't mind Surrey but I know Langley and apparently the OB's there are good with encouraging VBAC's there so we will see.  I know it also depends on having an OR ready to go at all times in case of uterine rupture which is higher in VBA2C's  (you need to have an emergency C-section within about 20 minutes in that case). So ya, we will see what happens there.  I also had the triple screen test (I forget what it's called now) and all of those results came back negative so that's good.

{Kai's old room which now contains all the baby stuff piled up everywhere.}

Gary is going to be starting to paint the baby room this afternoon!  So excited to get it set up and organized.  I know we have tons of time but the room is major chaos right now and I'm a big fan of order:)

I put this on facebook but this is something sweet Koen said this week:
Koen: Mommy, your mommy is in heaven?
Me: Yes, I miss her so much.
Koen: Where is heaven?
Me: With God
Koen: I'll get your mommy back for you.
He's so sweet.  I explained that my mommy was happier than ever in heaven right now so she should probably stay there.

And now, I wait for my two little sisters to have their babies!!!  I just really, really hope they don't go into labour at the same time as I want to be there for both if need be:)

And tonight?  Gary and I are going out for dinner!  Yay for swapping childcare with my sister:)  We always try to do it when the kids are in bed so it's minimal work for the other person.  Works so well!

Have a wonderful day.
Love, Louise