Our Family of Five

Our Hollin arrived three weeks early- in quite a hurry, I might add- on August 21st.
All three of my kiddos have come on their own early-  Hollin at 37 weeks Harbor at 38 weeks and  Henry at 39 weeks.
After timing contractions at home for over an hour, we called friends {at 2:00 am} to come watch the boys. We headed to the hospital with the overnight bags I had only packed about six hours before.
I definitely cut it close this time!
Upon arriving, I was dilated to a 5 and 70% effaced. I delivered both boys naturally without medication, so I continued to do the only thing I knew how to do:  breathe and walk and talk and keep moving.
I quickly dilated to a 7 and 90% effaced where we were then moved from triage into a room. So nice! The windows overlooked the Rockies, and during contractions I would let my eye travel their craggy peaks, stopping on aspen and pines, allowing myself to imagine what hiking trails must meander there.
With Henry, my window overlooked the Detroit River and the Canadian shore. No lapping waves to distract me this time, but spires reaching into the clouds, colored purple in the moonlight sure did the trick.
I used my birthing ball and felt a total sense of calm. I knew in the back of my head delivering so early could be rough for Hollin, but I felt such a peace. After dealing with gallbladder attacks for months and months, Hollin's arrival was well anticipated.
My water broke soon after {at a 7/90%} and I held Hollin 30 minutes later.
Going from a 7 to holding in 30 minutes is very reminiscent of Henry's birth  {he was born in 47 minutes from the time my water broke} and it has its pros and cons.
Pros: fast labor and very easy to do naturally Cons: both bebes had some breathing problems from such a quick birth
My mom arrived the next day, and we're very thankful to all the Colorado friends who helped us out in the meantime.  There is nothing as lovely and magical as bringing home a new baby.
I'm always saddened to hear of people who view children as a burden, as another mouth to feed. Children are His best gifts. There is no greater blessing in life than to build a family.
We're so thankful for our Hollin Leslie McCash! 7.7 pounds, 19 1/2 inches born 37 weeks and 1 day Apgar 9 & 9
{Leslie is my dad's first name} : )
            {These pictures were taken four hours after delivery using our tripod and self timer. Thank goodness for tripods!}

Hollin and Happenings

I'm coming down to the last few weeks of this pregnancy!

Hollin is due in about a month and it has really passed so quickly.

 

Her nursery has been finished for weeks and just today we bought a pink car seat.

This house has never seen so much pink!

: )

 

I've gained a total of about 15 pounds so far and am hoping to gain more in the next four weeks.

With gallbladder disease, they put you on quite a strict diet, but they reassure me she is measuring right on track, so we're very thankful for that!

 

{These pictures were taken about a week a part from one another}

 

 

My boys have been busy-

Harbor started kindergarten this week.

He goes to a uniform half day school and so far, he loves it!

Though he is only gone for about three hours a day, we miss him terribly here at home!

I'm really enjoying having the rest of the day with him to continue in our home school studies. 

 

This guy is almost 19 months old.

He talks so much that we can actually admit we have lost count of words.

He has started to make two word sentences: sky rain and Daddy bye-bye

He loves to draw and color, climb onto the kitchen table, eat!, play at the park, brush his teeth,

read books, and chase brother {he calls Harbor 'brother'}

 

We love him so!

 

David is doing great!

Work is rewarding and he is really happy with the company.

 

 

Recently, he flew alone to Ohio for business and

I joked that I would go into labor while he was gone.

 

Well, it almost happened.

 

While he was in Cleveland, I suffered an extreme gallbladder attack alone with the kids.

I ended up calling 911, which was a first for me ever!

David arranged childcare from Ohio just as the ambulance arrived.

 

They kept me overnight for two nights while David struggled to make it back home.

The attacks bring on massive contractions that require pills to control.

 

Thankfully, my sweet mom made the long 12 hour drive alone from Arkansas to Colorado and stayed for a full month to help out with the kids. My aunt even flew in during that time for a week.

 

We are blessed, indeed!

While my mom was here, I ended up having a grand total of four attacks and hospitalized three times.

Gallbladder stones are no joke, especially in late pregnancy.

I'll be very glad to see it removed after Hollin arrives.

 

Needless to say, David cancelled another trip to Chicago last week to stay close to home

and even cancelled a year long camping trip with the guys that had been on the calendar for a year.

 

He is a great guy and very supportive.

Despite life's circumstances, I am choosing joy!

Hollin is much wanted and prayed for, and she is worth the wait for surgery.

 

Hope you are all off to a great school year!

The house is quiet with Harbor gone, but I'm trying to get a nap schedule for Henry during those few hours so I can maximize my time.

 

Pretty soon the snow will be flying here and I'll be consumed with Christmas.

Is it so bad that I look forward to those days?

: )

 

XOXO

 

Missing May

I really am missing May. When I taught, I waited, and waited for May to arrive. It meant end of school, the arrival of warm weather, and summer time.   May! Where have you gone?!   This May, we spent our days eating chocolate pudding  

 

using all of the powder room toilet paper and getting caught not replacing the roll!

 

{Oops!}

: )

 

Playing at the park

{It did snow on Mother's Day here in Colorado, but it was our last snow!}

 

And riding bikes.

 

David splurged and bought a Trail Rider tandem bike for Harbor, which attaches to his bike.

Henry attaches to Harbor- which allows for the new baby to eventually sit beside Henry.

It was a big purchase {not cheap!} but so SO worth it.

Those boys of mine ride almost every single day.

 

On cooler days, we've stayed busy with crafts.

 

And more recently, a sweet, dear friend of mine, Melissa, offered to take some photos for us.

Melissa is a new friend here in Colorado and her husband works with David.

She did a wonderful job- and we were so excited to use the shoot as an opportunity to announce our newest little one's name.

: )

 

Cannot beat beautiful Colorado backdrops!

 

She took hundreds for us, but those are some of my favorites.

Little Hollin is loved so much.

 

I've connected with the same uber talented woman to design Hollin's crib bedding that designed Harbor's over five years ago. She lives in a different state, so it is all happening long distance, but if you are in the market for crib bedding, visit: http://www.pishposh.com. She is excellent!

 

Hollin has started to receive a few things in the mail from friends and family, like this precious box all the way from a darling friend, Annette, in Michigan. We love and miss our Detroit buddies so much. Moving cross country grows your heart {and your Christmas card list!} in the best possible ways!  Thank you, Annette!

 

I started working on a few festive 4th decorations and got the hair-brained idea that I could assemble my own giant pinwheels from card stock and grommets.

Thanks a lot, Pinterest!

Ha!

They took forever, but my mantle is finished.

 

Hopefully, a 4th of July post will be coming your way soon.

I love documenting all the holiday decor for my kiddos so someday they might not forget all we worked on together.

 

This guy has officially ended his baby days.

He is 16 months old, talking up a storm, and sleeping from 8:00 pm until about 7:00 am straight. His favorite foods are cheese, bread, cookies, and milk.

He asks for all of them by name.

He is no longer nursing- and though I'm sad about that- I am glad we made it to 16 months and have weaned before Hollin arrives. He is a precious boy and has a big personality.

 

This little boy is a great big brother and is my quiet, introverted son.

 

He loves to draw, design machines, read, do crafts, and play outside.

He loves to eat pasta, nutella, apples, and Sonic Jr. burgers with chocolate shakes.

He also has his first loose tooth!

: )

 

He is currently taking swimming lessons and has been enrolled in an "invitation only" Classical Academy for kindergarten. We have been on the waiting list for months, but thankfully have secured a seat. He will only be gone a few hours each day {about 3.5}, which gives us the opportunity to home school in the extra hours he is at home. It is a uniform only school, so I'm excited to see how he enjoys it.  It has been tough finding the right solution for our family, but we're hopeful a kinder/home school mix in a classical environment will be a good fit for our Harbor. He is nervous and isn't too thrilled about going -he wants to stay home and school here- but socially, he really needs to be involved outside of the home, especially in music and PE. I'd love to keep him home with me, but I think the Lord would have me try this option first. As a former public school teacher, I am a big fan of the public system. I saw SO much good there, but I really felt, after looking at our local options, that this may be a better fit for him.

My boys keep me busy.

There is hardly a moment to myself, especially entering this 3rd trimester and working on baby related things.

It is a fun, but busy season of life for us.

 

Lately, Harbor has been working on different biomes and has been using my phone {supervised, of course} to look up pictures of plants and animals. Our house is plastered in his art work. It is a fun place to spend my days.

 

The boys have been consuming lots of watermelon

 

and popcorn

: )

 

Lastly, we took a family trip home to Arkansas over Memorial Day and I hope to share those photos soon. My family threw a wonderful surprise baby shower, and it was a great treat!

{Memorial Day Arkansas picture}

 

 

In other new, just for documentation purposes on my part, the last month has been really difficult for me health wise. I'm not one to tell many people or share news that is less than happy, but at 23 weeks I was hospitalized for extreme chest pain. Ultrasounds of my spleen, liver, and gallbladder revealed multiple gallstones, sludge, and a stone stuck mid way in my bile duct. Apparently, this is pretty common in pregnancy, but can be managed with diet. Sadly, diet hasn't been helpful in my case as my attacks come from about anything- fruit, apple juice, and even toast. Since then, I've been hospitalised twice more. I've been monitored each time, given IV fluids, morphine, and had more ultrasounds. Stones stuck in the ducts can be very dangerous- and even deadly- and they are extremely painful. I had both my boys without epidurals and I would rank the attacks up there with natural labor. They last about six hours each and leave me needing fluids and pain medication. This last hospitalization was this week, and the surgeons agreed that surgery to remove the gallbladder is just too dangerous as Hollin's chance of survival is not great. My uterus is too high and the risk of blood clots in my lungs too dangerous. It is a difficult situation. We're praying for a smooth final trimester and know the Lord is ever close at hand. Please pray for me to endure and to manage this pain effectively. Living here without family means the whole crew winds up in the hospital for seven hours while I lay hooked up to machines. My Hollin is worth it and I'm determined to endure to the end. The Lord is always good, always!, and I know nothing happens that He hasn't already foretold. I'm thankful for His promises and believe them without question, without doubt.

Just keep me in your prayers as we head to our September due date.