Ok, ok, I know this is old news to so many, but to others, maybe not so much...
I think once Olivya realized what this sign really meant, she had a different reaction...haha.
It's official...we are having another baby in November...(don't worry...it was a surprise to us too!! A welcomed surprise, of course, but a VERY BIG surprise!!)
This time around, after telling our parents the news, we broke the news first to my grandma (aka the head of the family) and then the rest of the fan found out...we happened to be right around 12 weeks at Easter time, so we broke the news during our annual Easter Egg hunt! Of course, once my grandma found the egg, we didn't put which one of her grandchildren this was coming from...so she looked at two of my cousins first (to which they both replied, "don't look at me!!") and then she figured it out on her third attempt.
And when Michael brought Adelyn to tell Pastor Julie (the pastor Michael worked with in Lake Elmo for so many years...), they made this adorable video for me...
Let the craziness begin! Wait a second...I think it's already begun:) Family of 5 here we come!
Michael and I arrived at University of Minnesota - Fairview hospital just before 8am on Wednesday, April 24th (which I just need to mention that there was still snow on the ground on this date!!!) and we were quickly set up in a pre-op room as we met with doctors, nurses, students, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals to get ready for our scheduled c-section that would take place in 2 short hours from the time that we arrived to the hospital. Michael got his badge and we couldn't believe that our lives were about to be rocked once again!!
As I entered the operating room, I was a bit nervous (ok, a lot nervous) that I would endure the same pain that I did when I had an unplanned c-section with Adelyn - even though my doctor was amazing and has been reassuring me over the past several weeks that it would NOT be the same experience (she was going to make sure of it!). After getting prepped and getting my spinal block, Michael came into the operating room as the surgery began. I remember we were joking around with the surgical team...talking about running (evidently there were a lot of runners in the room) and a bunch of other random stuff, and all of a sudden, my doctor said, "here comes the head!...and a shoulder and another shoulder....and she's out!!"
...and just like that, Olivya Ann Carmack was born at 11:07am on Wednesday, April 24th, 2013.
Michael and I stared at each other for what seemed to be 5 minutes (I bet it was about 8 seconds in reality) and then we both let out the breath of relief that we were holding as we heard our child cry for the first time (most amazing feeling ever!!). She. Was. Perfect. She came out with a head full of hair (would you expect any different?) and weighed 8 lbs, 2 oz and was 20" long.
I couldn't believe it. I didn't feel a thing during my entire surgery!! (Evidently this is how c-sections are supposed to be, but based on my last experience, I didn't believe it).
After finishing surgery and then going to the post-op/recovery room for 2 hours, we were finally wheeled up to our hospital room that we would consider "home" for the next 5 days. Shortly after we arrived in our room, my parents brought Adelyn in to meet her big sister and I think it would be an understatement to say that she was instantly in love with her.
I'm not sure how I was expecting Adelyn to react to her new sister, but it was way better than anything I could have ever expected!! She was excited. She was protective. She wanted to hold her and love her and be by her side at all times (she even told Gramma "NO" when Gramma asked to hold Olivya). Adelyn came in and knew exactly who the new baby was...already giving her a nickname of "La la". Literally Adelyn couldn't take her eyes off of her.
And she was a pretty proud Big Sister to say the least...
Even when other people held Olivya, Adelyn had to be right there by her side...
But I don't blame her...we couldn't take our eyes off of her either...
yep...I'd say we are pretty proud parents!!
And before we knew it, it was already time to bring Olivya home...
And what a great transition it was when we got home! Of course we couldn't wait to break out the photo studio when we got home to take a few more pictures (that would be Michael taking the pictures...I'm just the one who tries to pose her)...
Olivya fit right in and so far, the transition for Adelyn has been pretty seamless too! (Yes, Adelyn continues to make sure that she knows where Olivya is at all times, and she constantly is checking on how she is doing...).
Olivya has done great the past few days at home!! She sure is a sleeper though!! (I'm DEFINITELY not complaining about that!). she just sleeps, eats, poops, and sleeps some more. (geesh. Typical baby...).
And I'll leave you with this...just because it melts my heart to see my oldest daughter singing to my youngest daughter (whom Adelyn calls "Lala")...I feel truly blessed by my children (and my husband too!!) every single day.
Uff-da!! This whole getting ready for a baby thing is more work than I remember!!! There are three main areas in my life that I've been working on getting ready before Baby comes (please don't come early...please don't come early...everything is marked out by the day as to what will get done when!). Here's the 3 crazy parts in my life right now that I'm making preparations in:
1. WORK
Full time ministry...while I'm on maternity leave, weekly programming for 200+ children must go on. I have successfully secured 32 volunteers (not including normal weekly leaders/teachers) to take over just weekly things that I usually do to make Sunday mornings happen in 15 different classrooms with 3 different curriculum's to get ready for each week. (Not to mention, a huge summer ministry of VBS will be happening shortly after I return, so I'm trying to get volunteers and registrations in place for all of that too). So...here's my system of how it's going to work. Thank God for Bins and Post-it notes (this is only 1/2 of my office. The other half looks the exact same way!!)
2. SEMINARY
Set to graduate in May, my goal is to be done with ALL COURSE WORK before baby arrives...so that basically means by this coming Friday, I need to have completed 3 research essays (10-12 pages each), a presentation, and 2 final tests. Yeah...good luck with that (I think I can...I think I can...). I also had to get certified to do pre marriage counseling (which I completed the training and certification process for on Saturday! yay!). If you need me this week...you can find me at the library...or in front of my computer during each spare minute of my life (sorry Michael and Addi...this week is gonna suck!)
3. LIFE
Unlike preparing for Adelyn to arrive, we are keeping it minimal for this baby (poor girl...), as we know we will only be in our current "temporary apartment" for [hopefully] 3-4 more months. But with that being said, we have dug out the car seat, ordered a new crib mattress for a small crib that we already had,
And of course, Michael was most excited to go out and buy some new back drops for our photo studio, as he can't wait to get some snapshots of the little one. Adelyn was a great model as she "tested" out some of the back drops...
I have washed and organized all the baby's new clothes, and we continually are talking to Adelyn about caring for her new baby sister and talking about where the baby will sleep and swing, etc. Adelyn is a great care taker for her dolls...so she will be most anxious to help out with the new baby...(once we get her over wanting to eat baby's heads!)
And thanks to my INCREDIBLE family and friends, I am now fully stocked with a few new outfits and lots and lots of diapers!! My friend Katie planned a small brunch for me and 2 of our other friends where I was given some great clothes and necessities for baby...and the Simon Side of my family threw me a Diaper Dash Party, which filled up Adelyn's closet with lots and lots of diapers, wipes, and other things for the new baby!! What a blessing! Here's some pictures from the Diaper Dash, complete with an Acapulco Dinner, amazing cupcakes, a Diaper cake, "deep thoughts" written on diapers, great family, and boxes and boxes of Diapers...
While I know that some things are completely out of my control with this baby (whether she will decide to wait until d-day to come or not...or the insane snowstorms that we have been having lately...)
This week is full of finishing all the preparations (still need to clean the house and pack our bags too!!). During this week, I will attempt to enjoy this last week of pregnancy, while working my little behind off to get life prepared so that all I have to do once the little Miss arrives is to enjoy every single minute.
Wish Me Luck!!! (and Prayers are welcome too!!) The Race is on...
