Go what?

Go Ducks!

What happened when you had Anthony? PT 1

I realized I never shared Anthony's birth story.  I personally love reading them myself, so I will tell mine!  They're kind of like women's war stories.  Incidentally, the Maya believed that if someone died during fighting a war, or giving birth to a child, they automatically went to the highest level of the afterlife.

The week I had him was so hot.  I was hoping to be induced, partially just to be in the powerful air-conditioning!  I had my induction cancelled twice, due to unprecedented demand for the maternity ward.  Since I kept being healthy, I made it past my due date, still pregnant.  Another reason I wanted to be induced, besides just really being done being pregnant, was the fact that my DR had delivered all of my babies, and I trusted him, and wanted him to be there.  I know I'm not just a uterus to him!

August 9th was our day to go in, and we didn't get put off again!  We were to arrive around 12, but the induction didn't get started until around 3.  Our nurse, who was really nice got me all set up, and shot the breeze with Wesley and I, telling us she became a Maternity nurse, because it turned out she didn't really like sick people.

When they checked me, I was still initially at a 1.5.  I was disappointed I hadn't progressed any in the couple days since my doctor's appointment.  I am just not much for premature dilation!  So they added pitocin to the IV, already hooked up to me.

After a while, contractions started, and my mom and Wesley's mom came down to the hospital.  I was still hungry (always hungry), so I kept eating jello, drinking juice and broth, and generally wishing for something to chew.  I used the birthing ball when it got unpleasant to be in the bed.  At this point I'm starting to wonder why I signed up for labor today!

Before he left being the on=call doctor for the day, my DR came by and checked me.  3 centimeters.  This was unbelievably disappointing, as I had been laboring quite intensely for hours now, and felt that very little had happened for all the hard work.  He just broke my water.  I was a little nonplussed, as I knew that laboring was now going to be way more painful, plus I hate that feeling of being soaked.  He also explained he had to pick up the kids in Portland, so I needed to time my birth right so he could be there.  This upset me, but I knew how hard we'd worked just trying to get me in.

So I kept laboring, much more painfully now...

Where is the meet?

One of the kind of fun things about having kids is learning things you didn't know you didn't know...

For instance, until this Fall, I had no idea there were little kid cross country meets around the valley.  But there are!

Molly and Roland have both joined the Salem YMCA's X-Country team, and I am so proud, especially of Molly as she participates in her first sport.

While she is not naturally super speedy, she is a hard worker, willing to do something she's not a superstar at, and has been improving her times!

What day is the field trip?

Lillian went on her very first field trip today!
My mother an dLindsay kindly agreed to go in my place, as I feel that the pumpkin patch is a difficult place to nurse a baby when you are technically in charge of the 4 year old.

She was so excited, though under the weather a little.  Fortunately this didn't stop her.

She fell asleep on the bottom stair this week, having snuck down, and lacking the nerve to reveal herself.

Despite some awesome power struggles, we really enjoy our growing up girl.

What do you want for your birthday?

This is what I want (pictured).  Plus a chance to have just one more before I'm too old (and to know in advance exactly when I will be too old).

Is Lillian enjoying school?

She is loving it!

Her first day was so cute and she was so easy about it.

She put her things away, and didn't look up when I kissed her goodbye.  Another little kid was sobbing loudly, and I was glad, that this time, it wasn't me!

Is he two months already?

Anthony was 2 months this week.  We made the obligatory trip to see our Doctor.

He was pretty sweet, smiling nervously at him throughout the exam.  Hi stats:

23 inches, 47th percentile.

12lbs , 3.5 oz, 50th percentile.

So he's clinging to the middle of that growth curve.

He did great with his shots, and was pretty happy all day.  He even slept 9 hours that night, so he's my favorite.

Why can't I have both?

Yesterday, my lovely Mother-in-law, Evelyn took both Lillian and Jack for the day.  Once a rocky morning start with Roland was over, I had a nice, peaceful day with just Anthony.  He napped great, we went for a walk (the first time he and I have done that).  I made myself some tortelini soup from scratch for lunch, and I wondered...

Why can't I have children and peace.  I enjoyed my day so much, but of course wouldn't give up my small children so most days could be like that.  But why can't they be more like that?  Why does there have to be a melt down every day?  Why can't I just clean up my kitchen without paying for it in another part of the house?  Why do I still feel envious of pregnant women, what's that about.  Why do I want to put off the 'last' baby pretty much forever, because I want to keep having newborns for the rest of my life.  Why can't I be content with one path or the other.

I know no matter what we do, our small children time will come to an end, nature ensures that, and while I know that will be a happy time too, I'm just not ready for all that peace (plus then there will be non stop activities and teenagers, so I'll have that to deal with).  I'll have to settle for trying to make my life more peaceful, and hope for the best.

An early sleep smile

Is Molly going to do another show?

Maybe you haven't been wondering that, but she is!  She auditioned for 2 community theater productions last week, and booked Pentacle Theater's  upcoming 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory'

My friends Crystal and Allison helped Molly prepare her audition song, my brother downloaded the karaoke version of 'Oh the Thinks You Can Think' from Seussical the musical, and this was in my head for weeks:

Molly singing her audition song

I wanted to upload it to the blog, but I couldn't figure out how to do it, since it is unlisted.

My friend Andrea brought her 4 youngest kids, which was nice, since baby Anthony had to come to the audition too.  It took place in the lobby of the Pentacle Theater, and I got there very early,  hoping for an early exit.  It was not to be, though they meant to do the singing auditions in the order in which people had arrived (and they arrived for almost an hour after the start time), the stacks got mixed up, and we were among the last to get a spot to audition   There were just so many children and teenagers there, and it was intimidating for me the sheer number of competitors for four slots of girls 8-11.  I knew Molly wouldn't be considered for one of the ticket holders, Violet or Veruca, because she is so young.  Molly wants lines so she had no such belief.

Astonishingly to me, the children auditioning were about half tone deaf.  There were lots of great auditions (enough to make me feel anything but confident about Molly's numerical chances), but so many children couldn't carry a tune.  I wondered 'can't their parents hear them?'  But couldn't ask.

Toward the end of the endless afternoon, they realized their mistake with the order, and apologized to us early arrivers.  A mom of a young actress we know suggested I ask to go next, since I had my small baby.  I didn't, not wanting to seem like a demanding stage mother before my daughter was even cast.  However, that mom asked for me anyway, and I appreciated it.  Molly did her song, giving it about 50% of what she'd done at home (the video above is at about 75%).  I was disappointed, but proud of her for doing a nice job, and glad she was getting more practice at auditioning, that necessary evil.

When we got home that night, there was a message saying she'd made callbacks and I was so happy to be justified in spending all that time at the audition!