Ready for Sunday

We actually managed to get all 4 kids bathed Saturday night! Whoa, what an ordeal!

More Pictures

Here's a few more pictures. Joseph with the playdough octupus, Derek with some skipbo cards, Lorelei with Christian, and Christian with just the last trace of purple lips.

Quick Update

I don't have a ton of new pictures of Christian because his mouth is all purple at the moment. We are fighting some thrush. After my experience with thrush with Lorelei, I'm skipping the Nystatin that never works and just using Gentian Violet. It's pretty messy but it works and it works fast. Hopefully the purple stain will leave soon and I can take enough to appease his avid fans.


While my parents were here Joseph and Derek did some drawing/coloring. Joseph brought this picture over to Grandpa and told him it was him. My dad didn't think it was quite as funny as the rest of us.



Eyes open.


This is the last picture of me before Christian was born. The kids were very interested in me making meatballs.

Car and Baby

My wonderful parents made it here last night driving my new van. We bought a 2004 Toyota Sienna with 8 passengers- we found a good deal in Utah and just needed a way to get it out here. Mom and Dad offered to drive it out and although I hated 'making' them do that, it was too good to pass up. They are fantastic parents.

This morning I had a baby at home. (yes, 16 days early)
Stats: Christian Grant McQuade born 1:52 pm 19 inches long weighs 7 lbs 8 oz (and yes all my kids really are about the same size. this makes.... 7lbs 11 oz, 7lbs 8 oz, 7 lbs 12 oz, and now 7lbs 8oz)

Story:
My very first contraction was just before 9:00. I called Frank to come home around 9:40 and the midwife to head over about the same time. Luckily Frank only had to leave traffic court which isn't too big of a deal. I was still nervous at this point that it wasn't real; I kept asking Frank for validation. He started timing them for me - bout every 5 mins so it seemed likely. The first midwife showed up around 10:30 and the other just before noon. About that time Mom and Dad took the kids out to McDonalds and Walmart and I got in the bath which really did feel wonderful.

This labor seemed different - the contractions seemed farther apart to me (or just shorter) the entire time. Even during pushing I was having to wait for another one so I could push. I was able to talk and joke in between contractions until I was fully dilated. At 10 cm I asked them to break my water. He came out at 1:52, cord around his neck but no biggie. Labor was about 5 hours which is my longest so far. I can't even begin to say how wonderful it was to have a home birth. It was soo much better it doesn't even compare. I didn't tear this time which is also so much better. Christian and I are doing great. The other kids.....well, see for yourself in the video. This was right when they got back just after 3:00.