A Blast!

What a great time we turned out to have last night!!! We had a very yummy dinner at CPK. We all shared a large barbeque chicken salad and pizza. Then we walked around for a little while and all bought our girls something from Club Libby Lu. (<--Very cute store BTW!)

Then off to the Funny Bone. The show was SO incredibly funny. The only thing we didn't really care for was the host (you know, the one who starts out telling a few jokes then introduces the opening act and the headliner.) He really liked the "f" word and said "g.d." a lot. The other two comics were very funny. I can't remember the guy's name that opened for Heffron, his last name I think is Cummings, but he was hilarious. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard. My head was beginning to hurt and so were my jaws from all the laughing.

Then on the way out, my friend Mindy said that she wished she had brought her camera because she wanted to get a picture with J.H. I said that I had a camera phone and so we went back over to where the comics were selling and signing their CD's and asked for a picture. I felt a little silly, like we were back in high school or something, but it was fun anyway. She asked and of course he agreed and we got some guy to take our picture. I'm the one on the right in the pink. (I know, the camera adds 10 lbs. and unfortunately, there is only one camera on me!) Mindy is the short blonde in the middle and Angela (who I got to know through our small group) is the dark haired one in the front. The long haired guy is the Cummings guy and of course, all know, John Heffron...



After the picture was taken he commented on how one of us uses pert. Which, if you had seen the show, was funny in and of itself because he said he gets "excited just smelling shampoo". I won't get into the details but it has to do with "happy time" in the shower if you know what I mean.

After that we headed to Cup O Joe and got some coffee and sat there and talked and laughed for quite a while.

I really needed that! Good food, good laughs, good coversation, no crying baby, no fighting kids. Just plain fun!

(And thanks to my hubby for staying home and watching the kiddies so I could go out!)

Funny Bone

Anybody watch the show Last Comic Standing? While I wasn't a loyal viewer, I did see the show a few times. The season 2 (I think) winner of the show, John Heffron, is going to be at the Funny Bone comedy club near my part of town tomorrow night and a couple of my friends and I are going to go see him. We're going to eat dinner at California Pizza Kitchen and then catching the 8:00 show. It should be a fun evening. We have been talking for months now about doing this and a few weeks ago decided that we should go see Heffron. I have heard his CD and he is a pretty funny guy, and not too bad to look at either. (The friends I'm going with are both Single moms. ) I'm looking forward to a night out! My only problem now is finding something to wear. I may just need to go shopping tomorrow. Finding clothes sucks when you're fat. O well.

Burned!

I went on an outdoor field trip with my oldest daughter yesterday. We went to the Festival of Cultures at the Ohio Expo Center. We were outside from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It was nice and the weather was good. Not too cold, not too hot, not rainy. But of course, I didn't even think about putting on sunscreen, and boy does my face show it! My forehead is bright red! I also have a circle-o-sunburn on my chest. Nice! Oh, and I don't want to forget the white rings around my eyes from where my sunglasses were! Oh, yeah, I'm a pretty picture today!

Yeah, Carrie Won!

I have liked Carrie from the beginning. I think she has an awesome voice! However, I honestly thought that Bo was going to win. I think the judges were really trying to steer America to vote for him. But, alas, Carrie pulled through!

To tell you the truth, I wouldn't have really been upset if Bo had won, I think he is good too, and he'll have no problems getting a recording contract.

What did everyone think of miss Mikalah? Like her new hair-do? I think her hair looked good, but the voice, still not that great.

I enjoyed seeing some clips from the beginning of the season that I had forgotten about. Like the "can ya dig it" guy for one. Good ole' Leroy.

Sorry to keep you waiting

I had a very busy weekend and didn't really have time to get online. My friend did, of course, have her baby. Her 4th child, 3rd girl. She was born just after 9 pm on 5/19 (after only 10 hrs of labor, her shortest so far). She weighed 8lbs 8oz and was 20.5 inches long.

I got to see her on Saturday and hold her for about a half an hour (I was the only visitor at the time). She is so sweet. She has a little bit of black hair. It brought back memories, being there on the maternity floor, of last year for me. I passed the room I stayed in on the way to hers and felt a bit sad. Time is just flying by too fast!

I talked to my friend again today and she says that she has been having spinal headaches from the epidural. She's hoping that they will go away soon and that the doctor won't put her on bedrest or anything since she is supposed to be moving in less than a week and still has lots of packing to do. Not to mention 4 kids to take care of.

Other than that everything is going well. The baby is doing great and the older siblings are adjusting.

Well, I will have to fill in more about my weekend tomorrow, I've still got lots to do before bed.

Anxious

A friend of mine went in to the hospital this morning at 10:00 to have her labor induced. She is 9 days overdue with her 4th baby. With the last three, she had over 20 hour labors each, so we kind of figured this one would be no different. However, she was already 3cm dialated and 70% efaced before her due date, so I thought there may be hope for a faster labor this time. I don't know as of now if she has had the baby yet or not. I am supposed to be at the top of her list of people to call once the baby comes. I am anxiously awaiting the call so I can go visit her and see the new little sweetie.

I'm Torn!

Ok, here's the thing. My friend Mindy has been telling me for a while now that I need to go on this women's conference to see Beth Moore that the ladies from our church are going to.



Last night at our small group, they all told me that they would make sure I got a ticket if I still want to go. I really do want to go. The thing is, I haven't left my baby overnight yet. I know, I know, this is my 3rd baby and this isn't anything new to me (leaving a baby overnight for the first time) and I left both of my girls overnight before they were even a year old, but it still isn't an easy thing to do. I know that he (and the girls) will be in good hands while I'm gone, but I kind of feel guilty. He is very clingy to me and I know he will miss me (will he think I abandoned him? I don't know.)

I realize this sounds irrational and that I should just go. I need time away from my job and all the chaos that is my life too. But....argh....I don't know what to do here.

The other thing is that a few of the ladies from my group are staying a second night for a little R&R and I've been invited to join them. This sounds like a lot of fun. I hardly ever get to do this kind of thing and it will probably be a long time before another opportunity to do this comes up again. So I guess I'm asking you blog world, should I stay or should I go? (<---remember that song?) I know I should probably take the opportunity and go, but how do I get over feeling guilty about leaving my baby for the first time?

Questionaire

Stolen from Trinity.

1. Your name spelled backwards: hsleol
2. Where were your parents born? Ohio (I'm pretty sure my dad was, my mom definately was).
3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? My hubby does all the downloading, I don't know how.
4. What's your favorite restaurant? I don't think I have just one favorite, I just like to eat!
5. Last time you swam in a pool? One time last summer. I'm too fat to wear a bathing suit in public, but one time when I took the kids, there was no one else there so I got in too.
6. Have you ever been in a school play? Yes...Cinderella, Fiddler on the Roof, Jack and the Beanstalk and The Wizard of Oz
7. How many kids do you want? 3 or 4
8. Type of music you dislike most? I don't really care much for crap, uh, I mean rap
9. Are you registered to vote? Yes.
10. Do you have cable? Yes.
11. Have you ever ridden on a moped? No, but I've ridden on a motorcycle
12. Ever prank call anybody? Yes, my friend and I used to prank call people all the time in Jr. high.
13. Ever get a parking ticket? No
14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? I don't know, There was a time when I would have said yes, but I'm much less of a daredevil these days.
15. Farthest place you ever traveled? Phoenix AZ (Actually 600 miles farther away from the next farthest place, the Bahamas. I thought the Bahamas would be farther, but I looked it up.)
16. Do you have a garden? No.
17. What's your favorite comic strip? I'm not a big fan of the comic strips. There are some funny ones out there, but I don't have a fav.
18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem? I think I actually do.
19. Bath or Shower, morning or night? I almost always shower at night. I cannot get my butt up early enough to shower in the morning. I haven't taken a bath in years!
20. Best movie(s) you've seen in the past month? None of the movies I've seen in the last month were really good. I just saw Raise Your Voice with Hillary Duff this evening and it was o.k.
21. Favorite pizza toppings? Mushrooms and lots of cheese.
22. Chips or popcorn? Chips with french onion dip.
23. What color lipstick do you usually wear? I don't usually wear lipstick, but when I do, I like "flirty" colors.
24. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? No.
25. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? Pah-leeze!
26. Orange Juice or apple? Orange juice with lots of pulp!
27. Favorite type of chocolate bar? Probably Snickers.
28 When was the last time you voted at the polls? Last November.
29. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato? It has been a long time. But I do enjoy a nice, juicy slice of tomato on a burger.
30. Have you ever won a trophy? Yes
31. Are you a good cook? Not at all.
32. Do you know how to pump your own gas? But, of course.
33. Ever order something from an infomercial? Yes, some mixer thing that I never use.
34. Sprite or 7-up? Diet 7-up.
35. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work/school? When I was a server at Spageddies, I had to wear black dress pants, a white dress shirt with a tie and a black apron.
36. Last thing you bought at a pharmacy? An antibiotic for my hubby's ear infection...just yesterday.
37. Ever throw up in public? Yes, at church when I was little.
38. Would you prefer being a millionaire or to find true love? True love.
39. Do you believe in love at first sight? No, I believe in lust at first sight.
40. Ever call a 1-900 number? No.
41. Can exes be friends? I suppose so.
42. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital? My hubby when he got admitted for a large kidney stone a few months ago.
43. Did you have a lot of hair when you were a baby? No, I was pretty much bald until I was 2.
44. What message is on your answering machine? A generic message that came with the machine.
45. What is in your backpack? I don't carry a backpack, just a purse and a diaper bag.
46. Favorite thing to do before bedtime? Take a shower.
47. What is one thing you are grateful for today? My entire family.
48. What is the first concert you ever went to? Probably DC Talk at King's Island.

My Little Artist

Here is a cute pic of my oldest daughter yesterday at the doctor's office. She has been having some issues with her ear feeling clogged and hearing as though through a tunnel. The good news is that it isn't an ear infection (at least not yet). But she loves to draw and that's what she was doing to pass the time while waiting for the doc to come in. I saw it as a great photo opportunity.

Bounce With Me

Bounce fabric sheets:



The US Postal service sent out a message to all letter carriers to put a sheet of Bounce in their uniform pockets to keep yellow jackets away. The yellow jackets just veer around you. And all this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer!

It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.

It also repels mice. Spread them around foundation areas, or in trailers, cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.

It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.

Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

Eliminates static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.

Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen
with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.

Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

Freshen the air in your home. Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through sheet of
Bounce before beginning to sew.

Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.

Freshen the air in your car. Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The antistatic agent apparently weakens the bond between the food.

Eliminate odors in wastebaskets.. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.

Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.

Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.

Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.
Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. Keeps them smelling fresh.

My Mother's Day

We started on Saturday by buying some flowers and taking them to my mother's grave. It was the first time I've visited it since her funeral in January '04. I just kept putting it off not knowing how I would handle it. Well, Saturday was a beautiful day and I decided during lunch that we should go. I didn't want to wait til actual mother's day, I wanted to go right then. We spent a little while "visiting" her and walking around the cemetery a bit reading tombstones. (There are so many people buried around her that were really young when they died! It was really sad.) I did get a bit teary eyed, but didn't cry (there).

Then Sunday, we went to the 8:30 service at church and then out to lunch with my mom's parents and my dad. Then we went to visit guru's crazy mom for a few minutes at the run down, hole in the wall bar she works in. We gave her a card and a teddy bear (she really doesn't deserve more than that, she's not been the best of mothers or grandmothers, but that's a whole other subject!)

For some reason the rest of Sunday is a blur to me. I honestly can't remember what else we did. I think we just came home after that, but seriously, I can't remember what we did.

I did get some nice stuff though. My grandmother gave me the same thing she gave trinity...the coffee cup with coffee mixes inside. My MIL gave me some glass thing that you're supposed to hang on a window. Apparently she has a friend that makes them. It has some etching and writing on it. Then from my kids I got the latest Avalon CD...


And this three diamond necklace....

Happy Mother's Day, Moms!

And as a present, something cute to read...

Why God made moms: answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions.

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He Just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in
the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your Mom?
1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk
on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home, & dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power cause
that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your Mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of
that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did
it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back of
her head.

My Life in Song Titles

ok, I'm still working on the "If I could be a ______" list. I just don't have any answers for that one. I've tried to think of answers, but I've just not been feeling very creative lately. So here's this one...



Name of the Band: Avalon

Are you male or female?: The Best Thing

Describe yourself?: A World Away

How do some people feel about you?: You Were There

How do you feel about yourself?: Never Givin' Up

Describe an ex boy friend: Wonder Why

Describe your husband: Let It Be Forever

Describe where you want to be: Far Away From Here

Describe how you live: Good Way

Describe how you love: Love Remains

Share a few words of wisdom: Forgive and Forget


That was funner than I thought it would be. Anyone else?

Getting There...

Wow, I am so proud of my little man (and myself). I decided at the beginning of this week that I was going to get the baby on a more predictable bed time schedule. (better late than never!!) Every night this week he has been fed and in his crib by 9 pm. I have just put him in there and turned on his little fisher price aquarium thing and off to sleep he went.

Monday night he whimpered off and on for about 30 minutes or so, but then slept through the night (for the first time in FOREVER!) and didn't wake up until 7 am!! How wonderful it was to be able to get a complete full night's sleep. That hasn't happened in over a year.

Sure, he has slept through the night before. He was for a while, then started waking up around 3 am again for no good reason. I, being too tired to deal with him, just kept him in bed with me for the rest of the night. In turn, I didn't not get restful sleep from that point on. It also didn't help that I wasn't able to get to bed til about midnight or later.

I truly believe I have some sort of sleep disorder. I can be dead tired and still lay in bed tossing and turning for hours. So this on top of having my sleep disrupted, makes for a very exhausted mommy.

It felt good to be able to sleep through the night again. This also gives me more time to do other things around the house that I didn't have time to do before. My home is much cleaner as a result and I am a much more relaxed person. I just can't relax when there is a mess around me. My laundry is caught up for the first time in weeks. The dishes are all done. It is just superb! Now, I just need to find time to work out and I'll be all set.

I did a walk away the pounds video tonight, but I had to hold the baby the whole time. He was super cranky. He woke up too early from his nap this afternoon and was very tired this evening. He fell asleep about 6 pm but I only let him sleep for about 30 minutes because I didn't want him to not go to sleep tonight. So he was a cranky crankenheimer and was coughing and gagging from crying so hard (I was trying to make him sit there and watch me, but he wanted no part of it!) So I just picked the little booger up and walked while holding him. Guess it only served to help my calorie burning because of the extra weight.

I don't know if I really like those walking videos or not. First of all, I don't like working out to videos much as it is. And I don't really feel like I'm really working out when I do them. Maybe that's the beauty of them, but I don't feel like I've done enough when I'm done.

Well, I better stop for tonight. I better get to bed now, if I want to be asleep before 2 am.

Gonna be an aunt...again.

My hubby's brother's (girlfriend?, fiance'? live in? whatever she is...) called this evening to let us know that they are expecting again. I am very happy for them. Here's the thing...not too long after we heard they were expecting 4 years ago, we found out that my bro and his wife were expecting their first as well. Here's to hoping that will happen again!

Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!

Finally!! Scott is gone! For crying out loud, he should have left weeks ago and now he's finally gone!!! I am just giddy with excitement!!

100 Things

1. I am a natural blonde
2. I don't get my hair cut as often as I'd like (twice a year, if I'm lucky)
3. I have been married for 7 years (on 9/12)
4. I never went to college
5. But I would like to get a degree someday
6. I was always VERY shy growing up
7. I still am, but not to such an extreme
8. I don't like telling people no
9. Which means I often get stuck doing things I don't really want to do
10. I get bored easily
11. I think I have a bit of A.D.D or something
12. I will turn 26 this year
13. I have 3 kids
14. I had no difficulty conceiving any of them
15. I am truly grateful for that
16. I had 2 of them without an epidural
17. One with
18. I loved the epidural
19. Would definately get one again
20. I don't know if I want any more children
21. I love babies
22. But they are really expensive
23. I got pregnant my first "time" ever
24. I was 16
25. I was 17 when I had her
26. I still lived at home with my parents
27. My mom helped me out a LOT
28. My mom died while I was 6 months pregnant with my son
29. I miss her terribly
30. I love to shop
31. But I generally don't go into stores unless I need something
32. I can rationalize why I should get something I don't need
33. Then feel bad later when there's something I need, but can't afford it
34. I am a minivan mom
35. And I'm proud of it!
36. I love my van!
37. I can separate my kids
38. And still have room for the stroller and groceries, etc.
39. I love going on dates with my hubby
40. But don't get enough opportunities to do so
41. There is NO person from my husbands family that I would ever leave my kids with
42. I love to sing
43. I think I am ok at it
44. But I could always be better
45. I don't like to sing in front of people
46. Because of my shyness
47. I recently rejoined my church's praise team
48. I love to sleep
49. I usually take a shower at night
50. I don't like getting up early
51. I love not having to work
52. I am able to stay home with my kiddos
53. I am enjoying it...most days :)
54. I never want to work full time again
55. I want to work part time while my kids are all in school
56. I have a hard time concentrating
57. Something has to catch my interest immediately
58. If it doesn't, I get disinterested in it
59. I am extremely impatient
60. I don't like that about myself
61. I am very critical of myself
62. I don't like that either
63. I can't stand arrogant people
64. I don't like confrontation
65. I cry uncontrollably when I'm angry or upset
66. That bugs me too
67. I make my bed everyday
68. Even if it is right before I get in it
69. I can't stand for my covers to be crooked!
70. I like sleeping under a sheet and blanket year round
71. I sleep with a fan on all year too
72. I don't like cooking
73. I love to eat out at restaurants
74. I only own one pair of jeans for myself
75. I buy clothes for myself last after my kids and hubby
76. Since I stay home, I don't need as many clothes as they do
77. Plus, I hate clothes shopping for myself
78. It depresses me
79. I always say I'll wait to buy new clothes til I lose some weight
80. Then I don't lose weight
81. And I'm stuck washing and wearing the same pair of jeans everyday!
82. My legs are kind of long
83. But I wish they were longer
84. My legs are longer than my hubby's
85. And I am at least 5 inches shorter than him
86. My parents never got me involved in sports or other activities when I was a kid
87. I wish they had
88. Maybe I wouldn't have gotten fat
89. I used to just come home after school and watch t.v. and eat
90. I don't want that for my kids
91. I want to keep them active
92. I am almost always hungry
93. When I'm not eating, I'm thinking about food
94. I live to eat instead of eat to live
95. I wish I had a good workout partner
96. I can drive a stick shift
97. Learned when I was 15 on my bro's truck
98. I think it's kinda fun
99. I love the fall time
100. And going for walks in the park while the leaves are changing colors.

My 10 Things That I Hate About Me List

I'm FAT!

I am quick to anger.

I have a very difficult time getting up in the morning. I have a hard time getting to sleep at night and am, in turn, very sleepy in the mornings.

I can't cook. I don't like cooking and have NO desire to learn how.

I'm shy. I have a hard time making friends because of this. People think I'm stuck up because I don't talk much. (Why is that by the way? Why do people assume that quiet people are stuck up and not just shy?)

I am forgetful.

Did I mention that I'm fat? Oh yeah, I forgot :)

I care about what other people think about me. I really hate that. Why should I care what you think about me?

I am lazy. (Partially, I believe, because I am ALWAYS tired...read line 3)

I don't like to read. I miss out on so much and feel uninformed because of this.

I can not think of 10 things that I actually like about myself.

One Whole Year!

Well, today my baby is officially one year old! As promised yesterday, here are some random pictures of him from his hospital picture to today!

His hospital pic:

(sorry this is so big!)

With biggest sister a few hours after birth:


In swing watching mommy on the computer at a few weeks old:


In his bouncy seat around 3 months old:


In Pack-N-Play at great-grandma's at 10 months:


With mommy (me) and papaw at his party last Saturday:


And finally, today, the birthday boy with great-grandma:


Well, I hope you enjoyed my little slide show presentation of my boy!

Too much Cake! (And a birth story)

O.k, so we had my son's first birthday party on Saturday. It went pretty well, I think. There was so much left over cake. Of course, I cannot have cake within my reach and stay out of it. It's simply impossible. I have zero willpower. I love cake and creamy icing! So I ate sooooo much cake this weekend. Not only cake though, but lots of other stuff too. The word "diet" just did not exist for me this weekend. As a result, I felt like total and utter crap last night. I was up and down all night with acid reflux and woke several times in the middle of the night to the taste of vomit in my mouth. EW! Ok, so I am officially back to watching what I eat. I love to eat, but I haven't felt so full and sick in a long time. There is even still some cake downstairs, but I haven't taken one bite of it today!

Well last year at this time I was having contractions about 6 minutes apart. They started around 7:30 pm at 10 minutes apart. Then soon got to 4 minutes apart and I was at the hospital between 10 and 10:30 pm. When I got there, they were about 3 minutes apart and getting closer and much, much stronger. I walked the halls for a while stopping every 2 minutes on the dot for the contractions. I finally got to a room and asked for an epidural. (I did not get one when having either of the girls, but at this point, they were right on top of each other...no breaks in between. One would start practically before the last one ended!) By about 12:30 am I had the epi and was feeling NO pain. God bless the anesthesiologist!!

So by that point, this was by far the longest labor I have had seeing as how I wasn't even near delivering yet. (1st baby 5.5 hours, 2nd baby 4.5 hours). The epidural slowed down my contractions considerably, but it wasn't so bad, since I wasn't feeling anything.

Somewhere around 5 am I was fully dilated and started pushing. I was really scared that it would take a long time to push him out since I couldn't really feel how hard I was pushing. However, at 5:20 am he was out. All 9 lbs 4 oz and 20 inches of him. I simply cannot believe it has been a year! It just does not seem possible!

Well, hopefully I will have some pictures to post tomorrow.