Exciting End to a Crazy Day

Today was a crazy day!!  It all started last night.  I was more tired than usual and went to
bed super early.  Seeing as how I was at the pool all afternoon with the boys I didn't think
much of it.  But then in the morning I woke up and was feeling a little nauseous.  I remember
getting sick before Owen was born so part of me was wondering if this might be it.  Ryan
asked me if I wanted him to stay home and at first I told him no.  I felt bad asking him to skip
work since I really had no clue if today was the day or not.  He ate breakfast, showered, got
dressed, and walked out to his car.  It wasn't until he was pulling the car out of the garage
that I let my stubbornness go and ran out and asked him to stay.  I didn't know if today was
the day or not, but either way I wasn't feeling great and could use the help.

We took the boys to swim lessons and that's when the Braxton Hicks contractions started.  I
had been having them pretty consistently up until a few weeks ago but then they had gone
away for the most part.  When they started up again today of all days, after I wasn't feeling
well, it added to my feeling that labor might be coming soon.  They weren't painful, but they
kept coming.  I was going to meet some friends at the pool after swim lessons but decided
to take a pass because of how I was feeling.  I knew I wasn't in labor, but things were just
off.  I called my doctor to ask what she thought.  Since my water broke with the other two
boys, I didn't know what to expect labor to feel like when it didn't.  At what point should I go
in knowing how fast my deliveries have been? 

Based on what I was telling her she said it didn't sound like I was in active labor, but I could
come in to get checked to see if anything was progressing.  At first I told her it wasn't
necessary.  My regular appointment was tomorrow and I figured I could wait until then.  But
after talking with Ryan I decided it couldn't hurt to go in.  Better to be safe than sorry.  He
was home and could stay with the kids so I might as well go see what was going on.  I took
his car (my old 2005 Acura) and left him the Durango in case he needed to go anywhere
with the boys.  I saw Dr. Onia (my doctor had left for the day) and she told me I was still at
1.5 cm.  I hadn't progressed at all.  Now I was feeling stupid for thinking things were
starting.  But at least I could go home knowing things were OK and I still had some time.

I got in the car and started to drive home.  The car had been acting really strange on the
way to the doctor.  The dash lights would turn on and off, the AC wasn't working and when I
idled the car would practically turn off.  I turned onto Lower Wacker Drive on my way home
and it was doing the same thing.  I actually called Ryan to tell him what was going on and
joked that the car better not die and that's when it happened.  The car lost all power and
completely stalled in not only the middle of a lane on Lower Wacker, but the middle of an
intersection.  It was 90 degrees out, no AC, I couldn't roll the windows down and even if I
could I wouldn't want to because you never know what crazies are lurking down there.
Oh, and did I mention it was the middle of rush hour?

I sat in the car and called Roadside Assistance and the police while car after car passed me
honking their horn and giving me nasty looks.  Really people??  Do you think I enjoy being
stuck down here?  Do you think I purposely parked my car in the middle of the lane to screw
up your commute home??  45 minutes I sat there waiting for a tow truck.  The city tow truck
came first and got me out of the way.  He towed me to an area that made it easier for the
other tow truck to find me.  I sat in my car and waited again for the tow truck my insurance
company sent to come and get me.  Thankfully it wasn't long before he found me.  He
hooked up my car and we began our hour long drive back to Oak Park in bumper to bumper
traffic.

One thing I learned about tow trucks, the ride is definitely not smooth.  If fact, it's the
opposite..SO bumpy.  The braxton hicks had not gone away and all of these bumps were
making it worse.  I was so uncomfortable.  I sat there thinking, please don't let me go into
labor in this tow truck.  What would I even do??  Stuck in traffic, heading the opposite
direction from the hospital...what a mess.  

We finally made it back to Oak Park and dropped the car off at the repair shop.  Ryan was in
the middle of feeding the kids dinner, so I decided I would start walking home.  Clearly I
hadn't had enough activity or excitement for the day, so why not walk 1.5 miles home?
Thankfully I only got a few blocks before Ryan pulled up with the car.  We got home and all I
wanted to do was sit down.  My doctor told me that one of the main differences between
Braxton Hicks and real contractions are that when you sit and rest, Braxton Hicks should go
away.  Since I was just at the doctor and knew things weren't progressing at that moment I
was sure that if I sat down for awhile I would start to feel better.  I actually said to Ryan
when I got home, "If all that didn't put me into labor it looks like we're in for the full 39
weeks."  Looks like I spoke a little too soon.

I laid down and the contractions didn't stop.  I started timing them and they were 5 minutes
apart and coming consistently.  I stayed still and watched tv thinking it was all in my head
and I needed to rest.  It was a really long day so I figured my body just needed to relax.
After an hour of them not going away I was starting to get nervous.  Then when they started
becoming a little painful I thought there was a chance that this really was it.  Without my
water breaking I had no clue.  I didn't want to waste anyone's time, but I also didn't want to
wait too long if this was it and end up giving birth on the expressway.  I told Ryan that I think
we might need to go to the hospital.  I went upstairs and decided to lay on our bed for just a
few minutes longer to see if things got better.

 Not more than 20 seconds after laying on the bed I felt the all too familiar "pop."  There
were actually 2 little pops this time.  Like two small rubber bands snapping inside my belly.
Crap!  I got up and ran to the bathroom knowing instantly what had happened...my water
broke!  No more guessing on when to go in.  We needed to go now!  Thankfully Tim had
come over to hang out with Ryan so he was at our house already.  Everything was working
out perfectly.  Ryan was home, it was late at night so there would be no traffic, the kids were
asleep, and Tim was already at our house so we didn't have to wait for him to get there.
Tonight's the night....we're having a baby!! 

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day Ryan!!

We hope you had a great day eating breakfast at our favorite spot, going to watch Finding
Dory, and simply spending time together as a family.

 
You are patient, caring, fun, attentive, helpful, grounded, reliable, trustworthy, loving...the list
goes on and on.  I am so lucky to not only have you as my husband, but to have you as the
father of our kids.  They are two, soon to be three, of the luckiest kids ever.

They cry when you leave for work in the morning and can hardly wait to see you when you come home.  One of my favorite little rituals is watching you guys say goodbye through
the back window in the morning.

Joe: Daddy, I need tell you sumpin.
You: What?
Joe: You div me lil tiss. ("you give me a little kiss")
You: (blow Joe kisses)
Joe: Daddy, do monkey.
You: (sway your arms like a monkey while doing your best monkey noises)
Joe: Daddy, do monster.
You: (hold your hands up and roar)

You play along with him and Owen every morning even though you are right next to the garage and in plain view of all of the neighbors.  I'm sure they get a kick out of your little show too.  ;)  You blow multiple kisses, do multiple impersonations until I finally tell the boys that you need to go or you'll miss your train.  And then after they put you through their ritual they both run out the door and run to the garage so they can sneak in one more hug and kiss.  They love you so much and it's obvious that you mean the world to them.   

And not just them, but me too.  I thank God every day for you.  You are the most special man I have ever met and I couldn't ask for a better person to spend my life with.
We love you!!
 

And no Father's Day would be complete without wishing my dad and Larry, the other two special men in my life, a very happy day.  I am extremely lucky to have such amazing men in my life.  Happy Father's Day!!!!

Swim Lessons Begin

It's our favorite time of the year...swim lesson time!!

 Owen loved them so much last year that I signed them up for all 4 sessions this summer.

That's 7 full weeks of swim lessons!!  YAY!!

Owen began right where he left off last year and was more than happy to jump right in.

In fact, he spends the whole lesson (when it is not his turn) jumping off the side then

climbing back up...over and over again.  He can't get enough!

 Joe is a little apprehensive to initially get in the water, but once he is in he loves

swimming around using the pool noodles and kick boards.

 He even asked his instructor to catch him off the diving board, something I definitely didn't

think would happen the very first week.  He's getting braver every lesson.  Nice work buddy!

Owen's class kept running out of time for the diving board, but he finally got to jump the last

two days and it made his day!  This kid is a fish and is happiest when he is in the water.

  

 

In addition to our daily swim lessons, we've been going to the pool nearly every day.  I've

been so hot these days that it is a great way for me to cool off.  And Owen and Joe have so

much fun.  Their activity of choice, jumping into the pool.  Owen with a running head start,

and Joe telling he's going to do a "big jump," then jumping into my arms.  He's getting more

and more confident in the water which makes me so happy.  I love how much they both

enjoy being in the water and I'm looking forward to a summer full of pool visits.  

Pool Party!!

After we had yet another kiddie pool spring a leak, I was on the hunt for a new pool.  I knew

this summer was going to be hot, with a new baby we would most likely be staying close to

home a lot, and we were going to need a way to stay cool.  I did my research, weighed the

pros and cons, and finally picked a winner.  This weekend we blew it up for the inaugural

swim.  It was perfect!!  Big enough that I could sit in it, yet no so big

it cost an arm and  a leg to fill each time.

 Owen had so much fun!!  He couldn't even wait to get his swim suit on.  I went out first thing

in the morning to fill the pool so it would have time to warm up in the sun.  He came out with

me in his jammies, then decided to strip down to his undies and jump right in.  I'm not sure

how he tolerated it given how freezing cold it was, but it didn't seem to bother him.

Throughout the span of the day he probably did upwards of 100 "cannonballs", as he likes to refer to them as.  He starts all the way back by our gate leading out to the alley, runs as fast as he can, hurdles clear over the side of the pool and splashes right down in the middle of it.

 Between that and the squirt gun fight with Daddy, we were out in the backyard

nearly all day, despite the 95 degree heat.

 We were having so much fun we invited Tim, Val, Ruby and Max to come join us.

This is most likely my best and favorite purchase of the summer.  :)

Joe's haircut

Anyone that has been near me with Joe lately has probably heard me apologize for his hair.

Not apologize so much as try to get across that I really do brush his hair and regardless

it still seems to have a mind of its own.

 

I loved his curls and believe me when I say it took me a long time to even think of cutting

them.  I figured they were brought on by the sheer length of his hair and by cutting it we

would say goodbye to the cute curls.  But with summer here I knew all that hair would make

him hot and maybe if it was a little shorter it would be more manageable.  So I made the

appointment and took him in to get a new 'do.  I thought it curled because it was so long,

but clearly I thought wrong.   

 

This kid just has some seriously curly hair.  They took a good amount off and it is still just as

curly and crazy as ever, maybe more so! The stylist even showed me that if we cut it shorter

the curls would still be there because they start right where the hair starts.  I wish I would

have known that before I got it cut!  I would have left it a little longer because even though it

was crazy, it was so cute on him.  Thankfully the cute curls and the botched

bangs will grow back and this time I will embrace them.

Another Medal

It's that time again.

It's the last day of Owen's gymnastics session, which can only mean one thing...

 

Another medal!!  Owen is really racking up quite a collection of these things.

 

He has so much fun and does a great job.  Listens well, follows directions, and is getting

really good at the activities they have them do (cartwheels, somersaults, walking on the

balance beam, etc).  It's a fun class to watch mostly because he enjoys himself so much.

With the baby coming I moved him to a Saturday class so Ryan can take him and

I know he's going to be so impressed with all of Owen's new talents. 

Fear Conquered

This morning we took Owen to soccer like we have for the past few weeks, fully expecting to

see what we had been previously.  It started out the same with him loving the practice

portion.  But then when the game started and we expected him to get upset, he totally

surprised us.  I am not sure what changed this week, but he was loving the game.  

He stayed right with the ball, even when it was swarmed by all of the other players,

and ended up scoring four goals.  Something he was very proud of.

 

He even took a turn being the goalie and was really good!  He was in there for quite awhile

and the other team only got one ball past him.  He paid attention, waited for them to

kick the ball at him and would kick it right back.

I am so proud that he did such a great job, but even more so I'm proud that he conquered

whatever fear was holding him back and allowed himself to have fun.  He was so happy with

himself and kept asking if we were proud of him.  As we were leaving he told us he wants to

play soccer every day.  Such a better end to the day than the last few times.  Yay Owen!!