Coming and Going

Harrison is starting to get into a routine...sleep...eat...sleep...burp...sleep...poop...sleep...Well, you get the idea. Lots of folks have called and a few dropped by to say hello to the newest boy in town. The ladies at church held a "table shower" for us, providing a lot of the little things that we had either gotten rid of or just haven't had since Peyton came along 10 years (!!) ago.

Perhaps the most creative was this little boy from Stacie. It's a one-sie stuffed with diapers and even plugged with a pacifier. Thanks to everyone who has helped out, dropped off food or brought something by!

At home and resting

Harrison Cael (rhymes with "Gail") is at home and resting. He arrived in this world 11 minutes beofre 1 a.m. early this morning, July 9th. How he got here is a tale.

We had been to Tyler once already but Lynna's contractions just stopped cold. So, after a couple of hours, we headed home.

Sure enough, things wound up again and soon we were off. Only this time, there was not enough time to make it to the Labor of Love Birth Center in Tyler. So Vicky met us halfway, which wound up being a gas station parking lot north of Tyler.

After a few minutes of slow labor, we decided to make an attempt to drive on in to the birth center.

Harrison had other plans. He wanted out...and out he came about a mile down the road. He was healthy if not happy but rested well as we traveled on to the center.

Thanks to Vicky and her mother as well as Stacey for helping at home before we left. Here (at right) are the first round of picutres, including one from the back seat of our mini-van/brith center.

He's here!

Harrison Cael Chenault was born on Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 12:49 a.m. He was 8 lbs 13 oz. and 21 in. long. He was born along the side of the highway, but that is another story. We'll tell you more about that soon. Mother and son are at home and doing well.

Iron level

Vicky, our midwife, called on Friday to let me know that my iron levels are now at a good level!!!! Yeah!! She said to just keep on doing what I've been doing to keep my level up. It is such good news. I've been trying to take it easy and rest often, but it's not easy. I want the house clean and everything ready for the baby when he gets here. It is only two weeks until my due date. We go to see Vicky tomorrow so maybe I'll have more information to pass on after we see her.

Lynna

"An egg a day"...better make it four.

Vickie has spoken. And unfortunately, I'm the one that has to swallow it. Four eggs, a protein shake and at least one protein bar.

Have you ever eaten four eggs in a day...everyday!? I'd like to know how. (No, seriously, let me know. If you've got a suggestion or recipe on how to digest four eggs a day without loosing it, please, tell me.)

Also, working on keeping my feet up and elevated at least an hour everyday. I'm not sure David buys the whole "rest" thing. Oh well.

Vickie is planning on stopping by the station tomorrow morning so listen for her at 8:15 a.m. Unless of course, she's delivering a baby (not necessarily ours!).

KMOO Baby-Shower

The crew hosted a baby shower for David and I the day we left on vacation. Amy and her sister-in-law made the cake, which you can see was the central attraction at the shower. The chocolate cake was covered in blue-colored fondant. It was cute and delicious! Thanks to all the KMOO Crew for their work and gifts! It was a wonderful shower!

Vacation

Here we are on vacation last week in Galveston. We went to see Vicki, our midwife, last Monday and then left from Tyler and drove to Galveston. She reassured us that the baby wasn't ready to come yet. We were able to stay all week and we just got back home last night. We had a wonderful time. I love the beach!! It was a little more challenging to be on vacation, being 9mo. pregnant, but we wanted to squeeze a vacation in before the baby gets here. David had to do most of the loading and unloading and most of the setting up, but I think he got to relax too. The kids were great too. Now I have all the washing and cleanup to do. Hopefully that will all get done before the baby comes.

We are about to leave for our next appointment. In about 10 min. I have to drink a bottle of orange stuff so that Vicki can check my sugar. I'll let you know how it tastes later. I am feeling fine. It's just getting more difficult to bend over and to sleep. I have figured out that I need to eat in the evening before about 7:00 or I have problems in the night. The baby is moving more and the kids all think it's great to feel the baby. Emery kisses my tummy at least 2 or 3 times a day. We are getting more and more excited, but I'm glad there's about 3 more months. We still have to come up with a name!!
Lynna

It's a Boy!

"What do you have now?" asked the assistant with the clipboard.

"One boy and two girls."

"Well, you've evened out the numbers," she said, pointing a small pin toward the black and white screen.

Lara was happy, but slightly disappointed. Peyton was thrilled, pumping his fists into the air. Emery was unaffected. "I want mommy," came her response.

And that was Monday, March 2nd. Location: Vicky Wells' birthing center in Tyler. But we weren't really the story. The big party was before us.

Mom and dad, at least three friends and grandmom and granddad; all them sat in the waiting area like nervous teenagers before a Hannah Montana Concert. Granddad even had his camera (a very nice Nikon, might I had) capturing every moment.

Mom left to start the process. And then...the moment of truth. The entire party filed into the eight-foot by five-foot room, huddled around the monitor and peered into the face of the unborn child.



This will be the second grandchild for the eldest couple. The first, born just a month ago in California. But this might as well have been their first. Everyone was excited; hugs all around. The couple scheduled their next appointment with the midwife while flash went off repeatedly on granddad's camera.

They are having a boy. And so are we.

The excitement builds...

OK, so we weren't "expecting" a fourth baby. At least not now. (Not that we were expecting one next year either.) But, nevertheless, we are excited about the new arrival. We held off telling folks about for several weeks. No reason why...just wanted to keep it to ourselves for a while.

But then the looks began. You know, the "is-she-putting-on-weight" look. Then the double take and the thought, "or is it...uh...no, surely not. She must have had one too many holiday dinners."

But now it's out and so is Lynna's belly. She's been liberated to wear bulky shirts, elastic pants and small industrial tarpaulins. She's already loosing her belly button. Funny how that works, really. One day it's catching cracker crumbs in bed, the next day it's barely a noticeable ripple beneath a maternity shirt.

Which brings me to another point of excitement...clothes. Apparently pregnancy is also a great excuse to buy a new wardrobe. Unfortunately, you don't have enough time to really wear the clothes. My suggestion is to buy old clothes, like a nice polyester pants-suit. Tell folks it is the "new little black dress", the "big thing" in maternity wear right now. I mean, by the time they figure out your lying through your teeth, the baby will be here!