happy halloween

We kicked off Halloween at Sawyer's preschool, on Friday morning, with a fantastic puppet show!

What's a witch's favorite subject? SPELLing! I came home with lots of new jokes. Harrison appreciated them...Jonathan not so much...

Then in the afternoon we went to watch the parade of costumes at Harrison's school, and crashed his class party. The sweet and generous room mom had plenty of extra cupcakes - including one for Darth Vader and she didn't make me help with the hot glue gun to get it!

We brought treats too! Thanks to Hilary for the CUTE inspiration!

Darth Vader & Jango Fett ready to Trick or Treat!

My boys really wanted Graham to dress up as Yoda...

but I think he was cute enough without a costume ;)

two weeks...

of baby bliss!

We are all madly in love with this baby boy!

i testify

When I first became pregnant with Graham, I was told my HCG levels were so low to expect a chemical pregnancy/miscarriage. And I prayed - please, please, please let my #'s double. Please.

And they did.

A few weeks into the pregnancy I had bleeding, and thought for certain I was suffering a loss. And I prayed again - please, please, please let this baby hang on.

And he did.

My Dr. discovered through ultrasound that the source of my bleeding was a cervical polyp - that caused me a trip to the ER at 15 weeks and many scares.

Around this time, the ultrasound also revealed that our baby had a cyst on his brain. And that this is sometimes considered a "soft marker" for Down Syndrome. And so I prayed - please, please, please let my child be healthy.

And at 20 weeks the cyst had absorbed and my quad screen results were better then "normal"

Also at 20 weeks, both boys developed Fifths Disease. I prayed that I would please, please, please have prior immunity, and not expose my baby to the possible hazards.

And my results came back to reveal that I had high immunity!

At 35 weeks I developed Stage II pregnancy induced hypertension. And I prayed that I would please, please, please not need to deliver my baby earlier then he was ready, because of it.

And during each twice weekly non-stress test my blood pressure stabilized.

At 37 weeks my Dr. announced that the baby was breech. And I prayed that he would flip on his own without an external version. I prayed that I would not need a Cesarean and the recovery that comes with it. Please, please, please let him flip!

And four days later an ultrasound showed he was head down!

During my delivery Graham's heart rate dropped from the 150's to the 80's. The cord was potentially wrapped around his neck. And while I inhaled the oxygen through my tears, I prayed that he would breath strong. Please, please, please God help my baby!

And his heart rate went back up. And the cord was not around his neck when he came out.

As I returned to my room for recovery, my body began to hemorrhage. And I prayed - please, please, please God help me through this pain, help me not lose too much blood.

And my uterus finally hardened.

Now we are home from the hospital. Graham is beautiful, wonderful, amazing, and healthy. And I pray...

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you God.

I think I'm trying too hard

In an effort to have my house clean from top to bottom, another Swiffer mop has bit the dust. This makes a grand total of four. It started with the handle a couple of weeks ago, which I intended to tape back on, but then the bottom half snapped off today, under my enormous weight and pressure.

Speaking of pressure, I'm experiencing TONS, but no more contractions. I'm being induced at 6am tomorrow morning. Finally, we will meet our baby Graham! I'll update as soon as I can!

october overload

Pennsylvania has been experiencing GORGEOUS Fall temps these past few days. And while the weather would have been pumpkin patch perfect all of last week, and likely tomorrow too...today was a bit of a heat wave. Sigh. So much for matching mock necks.

The boys decided to try the "real" corn maze this year. Every few minutes I would call out so they could listen for the sound of my voice. Eventually, Jonathan declared they were almost out! Hmm...you sound far away, I yelled back. To which they promptly exited the maze from the entrance. Ha!
Time for the hayride! Which wasn't nearly bumpy enough to send me into labor. Sadly.


Picking Pumpkins

60lbs worth!
Along with hay bales, corn stalks and plenty of baby gourds


Mr. Jiggly Bones is a new addition this year. Harrison was complaining that we didn't have any "scary" Halloween decorations. This guy is just the right combination of creepy and cute to make us both happy.

We have some new decorations inside, too. I think I'm going to need to find higher spot to keep the candy dish - the M&M's are disappearing at record rate.

Banner & pillow from Etsy. Oh, Etsy. Dangerous.

And a couple of new Lori Mitchell figures. Love.

This teacher treat is nothing new, but I revamped the packaging this year.

And to think that this month is only going to get better with our Autumn Arrival...