Welcome Connor!

For those of you who don't follow me on Facebook, you may not realize that it has happened! We welcomed Connor into the world yesterday!

After 10 1/2 hours of labor, Connor Richard Burke was born at 4:28 p.m.. He was 8 lbs 3.8 oz and 20 in long. I think he's cute as a button, don't you?



For those who are interested, here's a little more in depth look at the labor and delivery:

I checked in Wednesday night because I really hadn't started dialating. They put a fully bulb (not sure on the spelling, too tired to look it up)in overnight to get that process started. At about six in the morning, they started me on pitocin. The next three hours were pretty easy, but the contractions grew stronger. At about 10:30, I got an epidural--yes, I am one of those who would be screaming for drugs--and at 11:30 they broke my water.

Over the next four hours, my contractions increased in strength and frequency, but I still wasn't dialating. Also, it seemed everytime I contracted, Connor's heartbeat would decel. They put me on oxygen and had me moving all over the place, including moving me to my elbows and knees toward the end (that hurt!).

Then the doctor came in to check me and I was still about 7-8 cm. She said if I didn't start dialating more by 4:00, then we'd have to seriously consider a c-section for both Connor and mine's sake. That must have scared my cervix into cooperating because I quickly dialated to ten and we were off.

The delivery itself was pretty easy, despite the fact that Connor was almost a pound heaverier than we expected. Two contractions and a little less than 10 mins later, the doctor pulled out a handsome little baby.

Connor is perfectly healthy and totally adorable! Not that I'm biased or anything. He has been eating and everything like he's supposed to and all his vitals are wonderful.

Thank you all for your support and advice over the last few months. You all are wonderful and I'm thankful to have such great friends. God bless...

Nesting

First, let me apologize for not blogging much. Truth is I lack the inspiration for proper posts. I haven’t been reading up on the latest trends/tips for writing, in fact, I’ve hardly been writing at all. In the midst of all the craziness in my life, looking for the “call to love” beats just hasn’t been a top priority. So, when it comes to coming up with ideas for posts, I’m stuck. Writer’s block, if you will.

However, you know what has been on my mind a lot lately?

Cleaning.

Downsizing.

Organization.

That’s right, folks, the nesting period has officially settled in. With the addition of a third child in our near future, the office had to go. We turned the office into the girls’ bedroom, and the girls’ old room into Connor’s bedroom. Or that’s the plan…we got the rooms switched. Right now, though, Connor’s room looks like one of those rooms from Clean House or Clean Sweep. As I told my friend and fellow writer, Jill Kemerer, my goal for the week is to get rid of all those boxes. We’re about half way through, still four days until Friday! (My goal to finish Connor’s room.)

I have always been a pack rat, and so has my husband. So, with the office being turned into a bedroom, we’re forced to get rid of stuff. I definitely feel like one of the people on Clean Sweep as I sadly bid goodbye to “stuff”. I have a question for you guys…do you keep every card given to you? Yes, I’m referring to the Christmas cards, and birthday cards, and Valentine’s card. I think there’s a card out there for just about every day of the year. I don’t think I’ve ever really thrown any away. Every time I start to throw one away, I think about the time and effort that person put into picking out that card and sending it my way. Now, I have a trunk full of cards from the last ten years. What’s that going to look like in another ten years?

Yes, the nesting period is here—which, in my case, is probably a good thing. Except now I’d rather clean and organize than write…talk about messed up priorities!

Baby Update

I had a doctor appointment this morning. At just over twenty-six weeks, the Connor is a exactly two pounds! I thought I was just going in for a blood sugar check, but apparently, I was misinformed. It was a nice surprise, though, because I had the girls with me.

They hadn't seen anything other than ultrasound pictures, so they were through the roof with excitement at the idea of getting to see their little brother on the TV. Alana's face just lit up as I pointed out Connor's head and belly and feet.

Over the last few weeks, the fact that there's a baby in my belly has become more real to the girls, and they've actually started talking to him. Alana tries to have conversations with Connor, while Kyra sits next to me and tells him stories about "the really, really baby Connor and the really, really baby monster". Even cuter (and funnier) than that is that when they do to talk to him, they have to pull my shirt up so they can see my belly. I asked Alana why she did that (she was the one who started it). She pointed to my belly button and said matter-of-factly, "So Connor can see me."

Yeah, I thought you all could use a good laugh.

Over the last month, we managed to do some room rearranging to make room for the new baby. Connor now how his own room, and the girls have a bigger bedroom. The office stuff came down stairs and our living room became a lot more cramped. That's okay, though, it's getting tough to go up and down the stairs too much. I know, I'm a wimp.

Now we're turning our attention to purchasing some big things--a convertible bed, a new stroller, etc. In fact, two weeks ago, we purchased a "new" van! That's right, I'm well on my way to becoming a soccer mom. The van got its test run on a mini-vacation to my sister's in Kentucky for a baby shower with family and friends. It was a blast...and the van was a smooth and wonderful ride!

Lots of changes going on with this third child...and the excitement is starting to build. Less than three months to go...what are we going to do? :)