She's HERE!!!!

First, my apologies to anyone with a bellsouth.net account.  For some reason, my email won't talk to them at all.  The emails aren't coming back to me, though.  So check your junk or spam folders, maybe?

Sparkie is here!!!!  My water broke at 4:30pm on Friday, and she was born just before 9am Saurday.  I'll put a labor story on the family website when I can get to it.  That address is the plus our last name with an "s" dot com.  But I'm not sure how long it will take me to get to that.  There were some minor complications, but the end result is just precious!  She's eating well and sleeping well.  Poodle and Toot are wonderful with her.  And I'm healing right on schedule.  Praise God for His mercies and His love and compassion for us!!!

Here are some pictures to share...





Taken just after birth and her initial cleanup and evaluation.

The ubiquitous shot from the warmer in the delivery room.  You can't see eye color from here, but her eyes are the steely blue color that so many babies are born with.  We're not sure if she'll end up with Jmk's beautiful blue eyes like the other two or not.

About to go home from the hospital.  Poodle picked out the dress, hat, and booties (which you can't see in the picture).  We were prepared for a larger baby, as you can see!  ha!

Just got home from the hospital.  This is the little hat that I knitted for her.

I'm attempting to give some perspective on how tiny she is.  She was 7lbs 5oz.  Seriously.  Both of the other two were over 8 lbs.  Shoot.  Tooter was 1oz short of 9lbs.  We barely know what to do with such a relatively small package.  She's absolutely tiny to us!

Oh, and this is her Uncle David who got a phone call on Friday afternoon and dropped everything to drive home to see her.
:-)

We have lots of grandparent pictures, many courtesy of Uncle Robert that are on Jmk's computer now.  I'll get those up eventually.  (Time is a bit restricted right now).

Poodle is loving her little sister!  She wants to hold her constantly, and has already proven to be a big help.  She has even burped her one time.  :-)

For some reason, I don't have a good picture of Toot with Sparkie yet.  There's one on Facebook that my brother took, though.  I'll have to remember to go link to it.

This, however, is pretty indicative of our new favorite babysitter right now.  www.pbskids.org.  Both the older kids are loving it!

And one last picture from today....  you have to see that dark hair.  It's killing us.  We understand that both of her grandfathers have dark hair.  She has an uncle with dark hair.  But we're used to putting out blondies around here!  Of course, there's nothing saying that she'll keep this hair.  She's just as likely to lose it and get blond hair as she is to keep these sable locks.  But, we'll see.  It's just so strange to us!



If we have not replied to an email or a phone call, just know that we're getting around to it.  We're just acclimating to the new environment and attempting to make a smooth transition.  Jmk is taking off work as much as he can this week, and we are simply taking things easy.  I've got some healing to do, and of course, we have to adjust to the interrupted sleeping schedule.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your prayers.  We genuinely believe this little girl was prayed here, because of the challenges we encountered since the beginning of 2008.  God has been so good to us, and we are living proof of His grace (getting what we don't deserve) and mercy (not getting what we do deserve)!!!

OB Update - 39 weeks

Visit in brief:

Sparkie - 8 out of 8 on BPP.  All looks good, still thriving.

Me - Solid 2 cm dilated, still 60% effaced, got the doc to "stir things up" when she did the internal check.  I'm crampy now, just like I was when she did this when I was pg with Tooter.  (It was another week and a half before he was born).  And all is well!

Sniff, sniff. :-)

My baby took her first ballet class today.  It's a 5/6 combo type class where they do a little tap and then a little ballet, and an hour later, they get to leave with a butterfly stamp on their hands.  It's what is appropriate for this age of kids...  I've seen the dancers that this school puts out.  In about 3 years, the intensity will match desire, for sure.

But, for now, she's taking ballet.  And she was SO excited today.  Heck, she's been excited for months now.  She has had August 17 scored into her memory for just as long.  But today has been a mix of excitement and nerves about doing this new thing for the first time.  And she acted JUST like I used to before going on stage.  She didn't really want to talk or be talked to as she changed out of her street clothes and put on her tap shoes.  She needed to deal with her nerves in her own way.  It made me smile way deep down in my soul, because there was an understanding for her that she couldn't even know that I had.

Those who know my background know that this was probably a bigger deal for me than even for her.  But, this I promise you.  I don't expect her to love ballet.  If she does, then I'll be thrilled.  It will be such a joy to be able to share this endeavor and all its emotion with her, because I'll know where her mind is taking her and what her heart is feeling.  But I don't expect it of her.
All I really, really want for her - for any of my children - is for them to find that activity that they truly love to do.  To have a physical activity that you love to do adds a dimension to one's life that can not be matched by anything else.  To be blessed to be able to pursue that activity because of the sacrifice of your parents while you're growing up is a great thing.  To have something that may not be your profession, but is your passion, (even during the time of your life where you can't always pursue that passion), is a greater thing.  I truly believe it is a gift from God to have that in your life.

I had no idea when I was 5 years old and just starting ballet that it would turn into what it did for me.  She doesn't know where this will take her either.  But I pray that God will bless her and Toot and Sparkie with a passion for a physical activity.  It's a great, wonderful blessing.

Thank you for that verbal indulgence.  And now, what the grandmothers actually want.  Pictures!  :-)  Make sure you see the last couple of pictures.  My sweet, precious husband did a most wonderful, precious thing for his firstborn.

Poodle strikes a pose before we leave the house for the studio.

A little arabesque for the joy of dance!

We're at the studio, and she's getting her socks and tap shoes on.  They take their bags in with them and will change into ballet shoes at some point during the class.  The killer thing for me was the fact that I couldn't watch the class.  At all.  Not even through a little window in the door or anything.  At least I knew that going in - but it was still hard not to sneak in the studio so I could watch her having fun!

Waiting with her classmates to go into class.  She's all grown up and still a baby at the same time.  To me, anyway.

And when her sweet Daddy came home from work tonight, he walked in the door saying "where's my little ballerina?" and bearing beautiful flowers just for her.  I had no idea he was planning to do it.

And it meant as much to me as it did to her!!!

She can throw a baseball.  She can kick a soccer ball.  She can whack a ball with a bat better than her mom can (admittedly, this isn't a huge stretch).  She's fearless with so many things that she does, and isn't afraid to sweat.

But, for now, she's Daddy's little Ballerina Girl.

Procrastination does pay. Sometimes.

Two Christmases ago - yes, TWO Christmases ago - my sweet brother gave me a gift certificate to a nice spa here in town.  Just the right amount for a mani/pedi.  Ooooh...  I had every intention to use it right away, I tell ya!  Then life happened and I just never got around to it.  So, here I was almost two years later and had this gift card that really needed to be used.  Really.  I mean, what better time then when one is just a few weeks from giving birth to baby #3 and knows that finding a few hours like that is going to be pretty difficult for some time to come?

SO, Jmk took charge of the kids yesterday (with the youngest coming down with a cold and being VERY cranky and whiny), and I went off for a mani/pedi all by myself!  It was something else, I tell ya.  That's the type of indulgence that we don't spend money on...  translation:  I won't allow us to spend that kind of money on something of that nature.  So, to be pampered like that for a few hours was a treat that I just enjoyed to the fullest.  No guilt, no worrying about stuff at home, not a whole lot of extracurricular thinking in general.  It was bliss!


And, if I happen to go into labor a little early, then I will do so with fabulous toes and fingernails.  Thanks David!!!

OB Update - 38 weeks

All is well!  And status quo.  :-)
Thinned out a tad more to around 60%.  Somewhere between 1 and 2 cm dilated.  Major change is that she has gained close to a pound, via the sonogram estimation.  So we may not have that under 8 lb baby like we thought.  ;-)  Another 8 out of 8 on her BPP score.  Thus, she is thriving well (praise God!) and isn't in any hurry to come out early.
I'm doing fine.  I'm in the same place as are all women at this point in their pregnancy.  And I'll save my complaining for some other time.  The more I focus on it, the more I focus on it.  And no one needs that.

The BIG news of the moment, though, is that Poodle lost another tooth!  She lost it late Sunday evening.  Interesting story to it.  Her permanent tooth was actually growing in behind the baby tooth, and while the baby tooth was as loose as a goose, it wasn't coming out on its own.  I had emailed a friend who had this same issue with her son, and she told me to go ahead and call the dentist just to get his recommendation.  So, I mentioned to Jmk, within earshot of Poodle, that I was going to call said dentist on Monday just to see what might need to be done.  Miraculously, (ha!) that tooth managed to wiggle free Sunday night!  The tooth fairy paid us a visit the same night, and I still called the dentist Monday morning to make sure that the permanent tooth would eventually work its way forward over time.  (It will).

And on we go for another couple of weeks (and hopefully not too much more!)

Sense of Humor!!!

There are so many emotions, and rightfully so, surrounding the current political debates regarding medical insurance reform.  I thought that this link that my brother sent me was just perfect for some lighthearted fun and laughter!

Oh, and p.s., please join me in calling the debate what it is.  We're not debating health care reform.  We're debating medical insurance reform.  Health care reform implies either the way we live our lives and/or the methods of care that doctors use to treat us when we are not at 100%.  What is being so hotly debated is medical insurance and how and when it should be bought and applied.  I just want a spade to be called a spade.  You know.
:-)

OB Update - 37 weeks

Good report!
First, technically, we're full term now.  Babygirl is estimated to be over 6 lbs now, and since we've hit 37 weeks, going into labor won't cause anyone any heartburn.  (except for me!  ha!)

8 out of 8 points on the BPP again, so that's good.  Still head down, so that's good.  Still 50% effaced, but 1cm dilated now, so that's good.  OB has asked me to not do any out-of-the-ordinary travel since I've started dilating, so I'll be missing a family wedding this weekend, which is not good.  But, it's understandable.  Remember, I've got one foot in the grave according to my medical charts, and they have all these different rules for us old folks.  ::ahem::

The interesting thing, to me at least, is that she is measuring quite a bit smaller at this stage of the game than our other babies did.  Honestly, there is a good chance that this one may come out under 8 lbs.  We won't know what to do with such a "small" baby around the Zoo!

Even though I have begun to make "progress", don't read too much into it.  I walked around for several weeks anywhere from 1 to 3 cm dilated when I was pregnant with Tooter, so early progress is just the way my body does things.  I have yet to go into labor before my due date.  Not that I would mind terribly if I did go into labor early.  But I am certainly not counting on it.

And there's our good report for the week!

Thanks to the Teachers

I'm beginning to see the "ugh" and "here we go" status updates from teacher friends on Facebook, because school is beginning to gear up in much of our general area.  I can only imagine how they're feeling.  In a very small, fairly different way, I do relate because we are getting ready for school around our house as well, since Poodle is about to enter 1st grade.  But while I'm getting prepared for only one student, regular teachers are gearing up for 20 to 30 students.  They are dealing with preparing lesson plans or at the very least revamping the ones that have been suddenly changed by some higher-up in the school system.  They are reviewing policy changes and getting their rooms ready so that they can create a good learning environment for their kids.  They are preparing themselves to bring those students up to speed who are currently behind and to figure out how to keep those more advanced students motivated and engaged. At the same time.  And, honestly, some are already counting down the days until summertime again!

They know they are about to enter another year where they are expected to not just educate children.  But they will also be expected to discipline, motivate, and nurture children.  They will be expected to provide therapy and be a watchdog.  They will have to know more about their children than ever before. And not just one or two or three children.  They have to be "all things" to so many kids at one time.

And they will do it to their best ability.  Not because they are getting paid big sums for it.  Not because they will enjoy huge bundles of respect for it.  Not because it is easy for them.  Not even because they really, really like going to work every day.

But because they have a passion that they refuse to ignore.  Either for people in general or for children, specifically.  Or maybe for a subject matter.  Or maybe for the community.  Whatever the focus of that passion, the passion exists nevertheless.  And I'm grateful for those women and men who pursue this field.  We here at the Zoo may be taking advantage of the freedom to homeschool, but it's not because we don't respect those people who give so much of themselves to the honorable profession of teaching.  Of educating.  Of putting up with all the junk that they have to endure in order to live that part of their passion.  To the contrary, we are actually more aware of the importance of what they do.

We have long lost the days of the one room schoolhouse where the teacher had full control over her classroom, her day, her students.  But our teachers these days deal with the nonsense and interference from others and still push forward with students' best interests at heart.  Thank you to all those who do it anyway.  Thank you to all those who give the best of their hearts and their creativity and their time.  You are appreciated so much, and you are a truly important part of the community in which you live.

Thank you.