Four little Emmoreys

Four little Emmoreys

Friday, February 18, 2011

Single parenthood--not for me!

There is one thing in this life I dont want... to be a single parent. I dont think I could do it. I know God will always provide and if I'm in that situation I would be ok, but wowsers!

Randy and I haven't seen each other much the past few weeks. Between working, substitute teaching and working out, I feel like I see him 8 hours a day and 7 of them are spent sleeping.

Yesterday, I had to do some errands and he was busy all day. So that meant I had to take the kids with me... all three of them. It wasn't *that* bad but it was sure not the easiest thing I've ever done.

I had to get a birth certificate for Andrew. Got to the county building, got Andrew in the stroller and Sophia and Ellito out of the van, walked up to the building to see stairs inside the door. Went back to the van, ditched the stroller and put my muscles on.... lugged Andrew up the stairs with Sophia and Elliot in tow. Got to the window, realized I didn't ahve the money, so back out to the van we went. Down the steps, outside, got the money back inside up the steps and back to the lady. Whew. Got the birth certificate no problem. Back to the van.

Next stop. Elliots flu shot.

Already uneasy about giving him the second dose of the flu shot anyway but we already gave him the first so now we have to give him the second. I prayed there would be a close parking spot and there was! It was a new and expectant mommy spot... I think I qualify for that! Get the stroller out again, this time I knew I could use it! Get the kids to the building and up to the doctors office. OF course the waiting room is packed and all I could think about was the sick babies that my kids were around. yuck! Flu shot took all of 1 minute and then we had to wait 15 minutes in the waiting room. Got finished with that and back out to the van we went.

Now, I see this car parking in the new and expectant mommy spot, and out gets two older men.... neither was an expectant mom or a new mom. I wanted to say something but refrained. They both seemed annoyed that I was trying to get out of the building as they were trying to come in.... oh my.

By the time we finally got home I was exhausted. Two stops and it wore me out!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Our upcoming vacation

My children are growing to fast. Sophia just came up to me and asked me how many days till she can go to preschool because she is so excited to go and learn. I'm not sure how she got so big. I pick her up and she seems so long and lean that she hardly fits to be held. Then there is Elliot who is a bruiser. He likes to play and be rough but there are times he likes to curl up on my lap and snuggle. Andrew is still little, so seeing his personality is hard yet. But I have a feeling he'll be rough and tough like Elliot but also caring and loving.

I am a planner, and like to have things all figured out. (yet I can wait to find out if I'm having a boy or girl till the baby is born). We are going on vacation on monday and I"m already so stressed about it. Getting through the airport with three kids, getting on the plan, the flight, then fitting into the car once we are in FL. All things that have me stressed. I want to go and I know we'll have a fun time but its just a lot to get there! My mother in law is so kind and caring and has gotten things ready for us and is highly anticipating us coming. She hasn't met Andrew yet so I know she can't wait. He'll be almost 4 months old before she meets him for the first time!

We are packing light and planning to do laundry. I have a luandry basket full of clothes and plan to cut it in half even still! Only taking one suitcase for the five of us and then a back pack, the diaper bag, and the camera bag. PLUS a double stroller, a single umbrella stroller and then two car seats that will be checked with the suitcase as well as the infant carrier. Sounds like a lot of stuff. Yes, it is, but we truly are packing light! They need car seats, so thats a given, and then the stroller is a given as well. When you have small children, the stuff adds up fast. The older they get the less stuff they need! Not ready for those days but looking forward to traveling light!

Just a couple more days till we leave. I think we are leaving sunday night instead of getting up super early on monday to leave in time to catch our 830 flight. Getting a cheap hotel the night before and then still getting up early but not as early to drive the 3 hours the night before.

Vacations are always fun but for me stressful!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Another day in paradise

Have you ever had one of those days where you hit the floor running. Today, was one of them.

Randy had a substitute teaching job so he was up early, so was Sophia and she kindly went and woke Elliot up.... all was up at 630 this morning. I used to be a morning person, but I remember when I would wake early, I never had to deal with people. Today, I had to deal with people. Oh my. The day just took off from there.

I got a few loads of laundry folded, and put away, which is always good. Not much needed to get done with that. Then I cleaned up the kitchen and even wiped everything down.... nice to have that done. I checked the clock, it was only 10 AM. The day was dragging on!

Fed the kids an early lunch, tator tots and chicken nuggets, always a big hit around the house. They all went down for naps easily which was a blessing.

I was actually able to sit and read for a few minutes which turned into an hour and almost 50 pages later. Whew, it was nice. I can't remember the last night I sat and read a book for fun. Its been a while.

What I'm trying to say in my ramble of a post.... I wouldn't trade these days for anything. They may be crazy moments at that, but its love for sure. My children are so precious to me and so wonderful. Despite how many times I walk into the kitchen to find Elliot sitting on the counter.... yup had a few of those today as well.

All in all, it was just another day in paradise!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Christian Education

Randy and I are soon to be facing a big milestone in Sophia's life. School. This fall she is going to preschool. Just not sure where. There are two christian schools within 40 minutes. Not ideal, but the one we have a few friends who could car pool with and it wouldn't be as bad of a drive. There are also the public schools. I'm not against public school at all, but I really feel burdened to at least look into the christian school world and see if its an option for us.

The cost shouldnt' be an issue but being a pastor, we would recieve a discount. I think Sophia would do fine in either setting but I dont want her to be influenced negatively like she would be at public school. Could she be wrongly influenced at a christian school, yes. But I pray that wont happen.

So here are the options.

Carpooling with a few other friends tues-friday for preschool. OR driving 2 miles to the local free preschool. You would think the second option is what I am leaning towards but I'm not. I know the teacher at the christian school. She is a close friend of mine and I know she would always be honest with me about my daughters education and her progress. I dont know the other teachers at the free preschool. I love the idea of her getting the christian school education.

So much to think and pray about! As a parent, I want to do the very very best for my children. Always.

They mean so much to me and I value their education. Not just to learn but to be taught the Bible as well.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

My first Zumba

Two posts in one day.... for real....crazy.

I have been working out with ladies from church on tuesday/thursday nights. Tonight we tried zumba for the first time. Wow. Its a lot of dance moves and well, I'm not a dancer. I'm not coordinated at all. This is why I ran track, making left turns every 100 meters.

It was fun though and I smiled and laughed a lot. I felt like I got a workout! My sides were aching and cramping (which means it was a good workout!) No one was great at the moves, excpet for the leader, and thats what made it fun =)

I remember in college we would try to dance and be goofy in the dorms.... I was never good at it and would just laugh. I went to high school dances and never danced, ever. I just couldn't do it.

So lets just say, zumba isn't my favorite, but I got out of the house without my children and got to be around other ladies. I call it a succesful night!

Andrew Tyler Emmorey

I would like to introduce you... to my wonderful son... Andrew Tyler.

When we found out we were expecing again, I was so scared. Was I going to be able to handle three children all 3 and under? Well, I wasn't sure, but I was going to find out.

The pregnancy went great. No big hiccups. I started to get wildy uncomfortable at the end and was worried I was having another big baby. At my 38 week appointment, my doctor offered to induce me. I was so torn on the taking the offer. I watned to go on my own but was anxious about it. I knew it would be easier to have the children already with my friends and not worry about going into labor on my own and rushing around. So after some prayer, we decided to go ahead and be induced. I was disappointed in myself but I live with no regrets.

We went trick or treating as a family on October 31, 2010, came home, had a snack and waited. Randy had a meeting that when he was done with, we would drop the kids off at the Grosss' house and then head to the hospital. I was to arrive around 9 PM.

The doctor on call wondered why we didn't start in the morning, but my doctor wanted to start me the night before. The doctor did an u/s to make sure head was down and estimated about a 6-7 lb baby. He inserted the cervadil and I waited.

I sat there and wondered if this was the right thing or not. Contractions were not intense or anything. Randy was able to fall asleep and I know I closed my eyes, I never truly fell asleep all night. The night nurse was wonderful and re-assured me that being induced was ok.

Around 6 AM the contractions started. I remember waking Randy up and telling him they were picking up some. By 630 I could definately tell I was in labor. The doctor came in around 7 and checked me and I was only between a 2-3 CM. Very discouraging to be feeling so many contractions and not be very progressed. He said they were going to send me home to clear a bed for another induction, but since my contractions picked up on their own they would keep me. Praise the Lord! He said he would be back in an hour to break my water.

I was excited for that hour, so we went and walked laps around the OB floor. At 8:30 the doctor came back in and broke my water. Around 9 I was really wanting to shower and be on my feet, so I got in the shower and Randy went home for a few minutes to take care of a few bills and to get a shower himself. By 930 I was back in my bed and the contractions were picking up. The nurse came in and said the contractions were showing up every 1-1.5 minutes. I could tell! I quickly called Randy and told him to hurry that things were progressing and I needed him back ASAP. He got back around 10 and never left my side again.

I was slowly progressing but the pain was intense. At 10:30 I was maybe a 4 but I was asking for drugs. The nurse gave me half dose of nubain and that was wonderful. I was in an out of la-la land for an hour. I was so loopy but the pain was at least bearable. When that dose was wearing off Randy asked the nurse for another dose. She checked me but I dont remember where I was at that point. At 11:30 I got a second dose of nubain. That dose didn't do much as the first did.

I can remember when they started to get the room ready for me to push.... I was in a foggy daze from 10:30-1 from the nubain but that started to wear off and my head came with it. I remember screaming that I wanted to push and everyone kept telling me not to. Pretty hard to not push when my body was taking over like that. The doctor was hurrying about to get me ready but Andrew plowed his way through. Finally at 1:31 PM, Andrew was born. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.

My sweet husband however, didn't fare so well. He did fine during Sophia's labor, was so-so with Elliot, but with Andrew, he just couldn't take it. Andrews birth was more intense for both of us because it happened so fast.

They laid him up on my chest and I was in love. Of course, we waited to find out we were having a boy and I was very very surprised he was a boy. I remember asking to check again!

Three months later, I'm growing more and more in love with this little boy. He isn't sleeping through the night (both my other two were at this point) but I"m ok with that. I'm loving every day!

Andrew Tyler Emmorey November 1, 2011, 8 lbs 8 oz 20.5 inches