MAY 2009
I know...I am actually updating the blog! Surprise! But I am so strange I can only think in terms of order so I have to do this one month at a time. Eventually I will catch up! I promise!

In May, Auntie Dee


and Strong Uncle Craig came to Lexington for a visit! We had a lot of fun hanging out and catching up. Craig even held Owen for a bit!


Colin also got a new bike in May...it is just like his big brother's bike only red and with training wheels!


We got a big delivery of mulch dumped on our driveway which was a huge source of entertainment for Dylan and Colin! They loved conquering the mountain!


Of course Owen is growing like a weed!


We also had Owen's dedication at our church on Mother's Day. It was especially nice given the day we had the ceremony. It was a beautiful dedication.


The three brothers are getting bigger by the day!

APRIL 2009
April was a whirlwind with Pinki leaving, Keeneland, Teri's visit, tee ball starting, Easter and endless Easter egg hunts! Craziness. Owen is growing like a weed and his brothers are still doting on him! It is very cute.

"I love chocolate bunnies!"


"I also love chocolate bunnies and I tend to wear them on my face as well!"


The brothers three...cute as can be!


It was cold but we attended a breakfast with the works at Keeneland. Keeneland has 2 meets a year and each Saturday morning during those month-long meets they have a buffet breakfast during morning workouts for the kids with lots of fun activities.


"Look at me and my little bro!"


The weather was cool but sunny on Easter so we had to bring out the hammock. All 4 boys managed to take a short nap on it. It was very cute!


Owen in his Duck outfit for Easter...funnily enough, this was the outfit he wore when he came home from the hospital. He fits into it much better now!


We joined Davis and Donovan for a fun Easter egg hunt in our backyards. Now, this is a very cute picture of the 4 boys but I must explain the Corona beer box. We went to a friend's house the day before and she had an impromptu egg hunt. Well, she had a basket for Dylan but before she could find one for Colin, he took the Corona beer box we brought. So, this stuck....he was attached to that box and insisted on using it at the church Easter egg hunt as well as the one at home. It provided lots of comic relief!


Tee ball opening ceremonies! Yay...tee ball season is here and Dylan was back on the Indians. Dylan is the third from the left in the back row of kids. Yup...you guessed it, Jonny is in the feather headdress (very PC.....riiiight) in the back row on the very left! Colin cried the entire time Jonny had his face painted. As soon as the ceremony was over, Jonny had to wash it off before Colin would go near him!


Guess who got his training wheels taken off???? We took them off and he had a frustrating time once, a second frustrating time and the third time just clicked for him! Dylan is a bike riding machine! Jonny stopped running after him shortly after this pic was taken because he could no longer keep up!


Our good friend Teri from Philadelphia gave a talk at University of KY so she spent the weekend with us! Here she is with Dylan...I have a picture of her holding him when he was first born. Time flies!


Teri and Owen. Owen was going through a bit of a gassy period while she was here and I swear Teri is a baby-whisperer. She would calm him down so well!


April 20...so Owen and I were playing on the playmat (well, I am too big for it...Owen was playing on it) and he started to bring his legs up and roll onto his side. I said "Oh you are not ready to roll over yet...do not even try little man" and what does he do? He rolls over onto his stomach! He did that twice this day but has yet to repeat it. My guess is he got so ticked off when he was on his tummy that he decided he did not want to do it again!


Owen and Mommy just hanging out. Dylan was playing with the camera and took a pretty decent picture!


Another example of who is putting who to bed.


Owen has always been fascinated with his hands and I have said he is very expressive with them. However, I never thought he was THIS expressive so soon! Kids these days grow up so fast!


We bought a share in a community farm this year for the summer. This means that we will be getting fresh veggies once a week for about 20 weeks! YUM! They had an "open house" day when they invited all the shareholders to view the farm. The boys had a great time...especially with these very vocal turkeys.


Dylan just loves his newest little brother. He is really sweet with Owen and I get asked at least 2-3 times per day "Can I hold Owen, Mommy?"

MARCH 2009
The rest of march went by in a blur!
Here is a pic of the 4 boys in the house...not sure which one is in charge. Right now it is likely Owen who rules the roost!



Our family tradition...Owen and his first Baum Kuchen! Next year he will actually be able to eat some!


Owen and I. I just love to sit and cuddle with him! This was the outfit I bought for him to come home from the hospital...but he was not born close enough to St. Patrick's Day. :)


My 3 boys! Aren't they cute? Dylan and Colin just cannot get enough of Owen. But I am sure that will change once Owen becomes more mobile and gets into their toys!


Proud Mamma with her boys!


We were so lucky that Pinki came and helped us out for a month! She cooked dinners, played with the boys and helped out a lot! Thank you so much!


Owen's first bath. Of course he had to be dried off in his Steeler's towel from Auntie Dee and Uncle Craig!


Pinki and the boys. I think the red eyes just add to the mischief of the boys!

WELCOME HOME OWEN!!!

We went home Friday, March 6. Owen got to wear a cute little duck outfit. He looked adorable but I am sure someday he will complain bitterly about how I made him look silly and uncool. Actually, I did not put him in the outfit I had planned for him to wear since he was not born very close to St. Patrick's Day.



Proud Mommy and Daddy


Here Owen is ready in his car seat with the bear that Dylan and Colin brought him when they first met him.


The first of many pictures of Jonny sleeping with Owen. It is a tradition in our house. :)


Colin decided that he would like to hold Owen. He lasted for about 5 mins and then said he was all done and wanted to play. I was impressed at how long he lasted actually! Such a cutie.


And then, of course, Dylan holding Owen. Dylan either spends his days holding Owen or asking when he can hold Owen next. He even said that he likes holding Owen more than watching TV. BUT the perfect situation would be holding Owen AND watching TV.


Owen loves to have his hands next to his face. Too cute.

BROTHERS
One of the things I was looking forward to was seeing Dylan and Colin meet Owen for the first time. I remember how truly sweet it was when Dylan met Colin for the first time.
Here they are coming into the hospital room.


They were totally unfazed and wasted no time in hopping up onto the bed with Owen and I.


Owen was ready to meet his big brothers!


The first thing Dylan wanted to do was to hold Owen. Once he held him, he did not want to let him go. It was very cute.


Colin was happy to just hug and kiss Owen.


Dylan gave Owen up long enough for Daddy to have a cuddle.


But he quickly took him back. Dylan is such a loving little guy. He was so upset when he had to leave to go home. He even made a sign that he hung on his bedroom door that said "I miss my mommy and Owen :( " Breaks my heart.

WELCOME OWEN WALTER!!!!

Born March 4, 2009 at 6:50pm
9 pounds 5 oz (2 weeks early!!! phew!)
20.5 inches long

A BABY STORY: JC/DC Style

March 4, 2009
It was a busy day. I handed back the exams my students took the previous Friday. Then I ran some errands, picked up Colin from school, went to Sam's Club, picked up Dylan and our neighbor from school and then came home. I had an ob/gyn appointment at 3:30 so Jonny was coming home to watch the boys. During a bathroom stop (at 3:15), I noticed I lost my mucous plug. I thought "No biggie, that can happen and labor may not start until 1-2 weeks." But still, I thought I may as well make sure the boys have their bags packed to go over to Ali and Mike's (our neighbors) house just in case. So, Dylan, Colin and I went upstairs and as I was walking down the hall, I felt a trickle down my leg. Now I was a bit suspicious (my water never broke with Dylan and Colin so I was not sure). After some more of this, I thought "Hmm...maybe my water did break" so I called Jonny. After trying to get a hold of him three times, he finally called me back. He was almost home so when he got in, he finished packing the boys bags, I said good bye to the boys and he took them to the neighbor's house. It was all very rushed.


We got to the hospital (at about 4:15) and after an unpleasant encounter with UK parking security, we made it upstairs and waited to get into triage. At this point I am feeling uncomfortable but the contractions are not too painful.....YET!


Once into triage, I began to feel stronger contractions and dcided that my lofty goal of having no epidural was not such a good idea. Bring it on...let me be relaxed for my last birth experience. However, despite Jonny and I telling them that I do not labor too long, the triage staff took their time and did not get things rolling too quickly. I did get to meet a very sweet, timid medical student who stuck with me the whole time. Anyhoo, as soon as the nurse looked at me she said "Oh yeah, you are in labor". Once checked, I was 5 cm dilated.


So I was transferred to labor and delivery where the contractions got stronger and stronger. I had to wait until blood platelet levels were checked before I could get my epidural. It was a race against the clock. At one point I thought I had to push so the L&D nurse quickly called my doctor in (can you believe it, my actual doctor was on call...I have never had my own doctor deliver my baby!). At this point I was 8 cm dilated and Dr. Zachman said "OK, let's get her epidural in." But no test results yet. The anesthesiologist came into the room and set everything up and FINALLY they got the go ahead. I was very ready. However, apparently the doc was a not-so-experienced resident or something. I was in the position and she tried putting in the stupid catheter for about 15-20 mins. All during this time I was having intense contractions and I could not move. I was miserable. Finally I said "I have to lie down and I have to push." At that point the anesthesiologist said she had the catheter in and would send in a test does of medication to make sure it was in the right place and I should feel some relief in about 10 min. Fat chance. By this time, I had to push and my doc was in the room telling me I could, in fact, push. By this point I was having 3 contractions in a row that did not let up and then a 30 sec break before the next set began.


After about 3-4 pushes and Owen coming out with his hand next to his face, we had a baby boy at 6:50pm!


Did I mention my own doctor delivered Owen? So cool.


Cool picture of Owen's little foot and toes.