Photo Session

We ventured out and had pictures taken yesterday. Here are some of my favorite from the CD we were given. The CD has UN-EDITED pictures.... keep that in mind!!!

Merry Christmas

We wanted to share with you Tyler's prayer that he said at dinner tonight. It brought tears to our eyes, ok maybe just mine, as he sums up Christmas:

Dear God, ummm, I mean Jesus,
Thank you for Baby Jesus and the girl, ummm, Mary, who layed him in the hay in Bethlehem ... ummm.... yeah, Bethlehem. Thank you for letting Him grow so fast.
Amen.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We Are Home

** I have been trying for 3 days now to get this updatedd but everytime I add pictures, the internet locks up. So ... the blog info is a day or two old. **

Well, we are home with a NAMED BABY - YEAH!

Introducing Maxwell Reed Bartholomew:

I felt so bad for Mason ... he worked for a couple of hours doing an update for everyone then somehow lost it when trying to add in a slideshow. He was really bummed. So I guess I will start from the beginning:

I went into the hospital on Wednesday night (Dec. 17th) to begin the induction. As I had made very clear, I did not want to be induced but I was done being pregnant and Thursday the 18th was my due date. My doctor said we could have given Max a couple more days before pursuing an induction, but I didn't want it to creep into Christmas and Mason's birthday! I was just really struggling with wrapping my brain around WHY I was having to be induced. Tyler and Isabella were early, why was Max taking so long? WHY was I still pregnant - your body is suppose to know and give you the perfect timing for baby's arrival so who was I to say "Ok, let's do it now!". I just felt like there had to be SOME reason why Max hadn't come yet and my interfering was bothering me. Well obviously, I swallowed these feelings and went in for the induction!!

The first several hours were boring. It was just getting me settled in and hooking me up to my first round of anti-biotics which had to be in for 4 hours before any labor medicine could start. So Mason got me checked in and then went home to be with the kids. As all you moms know, the night really sucked!! With the two monitors hooked up to my tummy that would move everytime I had to switch positions or go pee (which between the two was every hour), I didn't get much rest. I was happy to see the sun come up!! I think it was around 3 am that I got my second round of antibiotics and they started me on Cidatek (spelling?). This medicine was suppose to just soften my cervix and get things "ideal" for starting the pitocin later. I think pitocin was started sometime mid morning.

Things progressed VERY slowly. In fact I didn't think Max was going to come despite the medicine!! When arriving at the hospital I was dilated to a 2 1/2. By mid-morning, I was only a 3!!! So they pushed me to a 3 1/2. The contractions started and were strong. But by lunch I was still a 3 1/2... so the pushed me to a 4. I got my epidural around 1pm ~ YEAH!

By 5 pm I was fighting the tears. I really wanted this baby out by noon and we were way past that deadline and STILL sitting at a 4 1/2. I wanted to see Tyler and Isabella. I wanted to meet the baby. Then more pain began. It was very low and in the middle and painful, despite the epidural. The nurse noticed that with every contraction, Max's heartrate would drop. They thought Max's head was pushing on my cervix which they said was good because he would help me dilate faster. I asked how long his little body could tolerate that and the nurse told me he was ok for a short time. I started to mentally prepare myself for the Dr. to come in and tell me I was having a c-section since I hadn't really done much dilating on my own that day.

At 5:15 I was an 8 (yes, 4 1/2 to and 8 in 15 minutes!!). YEAH- progress! But now Max's heartrate was staying low and not coming back up. The nurse and Dr. began to think something was wrong and thought that Max's head was smashing the umbilical cord. So at 5:30 I was an 8 1/2 and they filled my uterus with Saline to hopefully "float" Max into a new position so he wouldn't be smashing the umbilical cord. That did not work and I was suddenly overcome with a panic attack. So while I had oxygen on me, Mason was fanning me with a notebook, I was trying my dammest to control my breathing and calm down, the Dr. said he would be back in 30 minutes to see if I was ready to push. 5-10 minutes later, the nurse called the Dr. back in. The Dr. sat on the bed with me and did a cervix check and said, very sternly, that it was time to get the baby out and then he hesitated and said "yea, she is full". I guess he meant fully dilated but by his face, we do not think I was. He told me to push while he was still sitting on the bed and I thought that was weird but I did as told. I pushed through that contraction then he got up and broke the bed away and got everything "properly" ready. He told the nurses to get the vacuum and I remember thinking "NO - I pushed the other two out in record time, I don't need a vacuum, no, no no" .... I didn't say anything though of course. Mason knew at this point they were really concerned about Max but luckily I had no clue.

So anyways, next contraction, I push. I push a little more. I hear the nurse ask right away if the Dr. wanted the vacuum and he said "No, she is a really good pusher, a really good pusher". I was very proud of myself! So back to pushing!.... Within 10 minutes from the start of pushing, out came Max.

This is where I learned there WAS a problem. The umbilical cord was wrapped around Max's head not once, but TWICE! And to complicate things more, there was a huge knot in the umbilical cord. So when he got into the birth canal, his heart rate was not rebounding well because the cord was being pulled tighter on the knot and also around his neck. The Dr. pointed out that this is exactly why we have babies in hospitals, NOT at home. He said Max was a little miracle that it all went well. Apparently they were prepared for the worst ~ glad I didn't know about it!

But I guess I got my answer to WHY I was induced and didn't go into labor on my own! With how fast my body jumps into gear (once it finally decides to make it's move that is!!), if I had been at home with Max's heartrate plummeting like that, he may not have made it. God has a reason for everything and I REALLY need to learn to relax and stop questioning everything and simply trust in Him.

After that, we got to hold Max for an hour or so and then Mason left to go get the kids and I was moved to my post-partum room. Things got really bad for me after that with clots and blood and contractions and lots of crying .... oh, the crying. But it is something I would gather many of you don't care to hear about so I will spare you! Just know that I am ok now and all is well! :)

We got home Saturday night, had your typical rough first and second night, having an emotional first day at home with him - love those hormones! , but adjusting.

Here are pictures captured from the past few days!

He's Finally Here!

OK, so I typed out this long detailed description of the day, our feelings and what not... and erased it trying to add the slide show. here's the stats you care about since it is so late now. Kim can send out the detailed version later.



Baby Bartholomew#3

born 6:23pm on 12/18/08

8.002 pounds

full head of brown hair

no length since they don't do that right away here



and seriously, no name yet.

When is this baby going to come??

When is this baby going to come out??
Well ... I have an answer!! YEAH!!
I am officially due on Thursday but my body isn't really moving too fast in making something happen and the baby seems VERY content to just hang out in my belly. The doctor tells me the baby is about 8 1/2 pounds but we still have time to see if he will come on his own! I am like "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? You want me to let this baby get even BIGGER before doing anything?" MEN!!! Plus I have already opened a BOX of NB diapers that this kid IS going to wear even if his tushy is hanging out ~ let's get him out now while he still has a chance of fitting into them! SO ... even though I do not want to be induced, we are taking matters into our own hands! I go to the hospital tomorrow night (Wed. night) at 9:30 pm and they will begin a round of IV anti-biotics for 4 hours. Then 4 hours later, around 2:30 or 3am, they will start me on another round of anti-biotics and begin the medicine to induce labor. They are not starting me right off on Pitocin but another drug that I can not remember the name of, but it is weaker. Then we will go from there. That may be enough to make this baby jump ship or we may need to go up to the stronger Pitocin. When it is all said and done, hopefully we will have our name-less baby boy on Thursday!

Mason is going to be updating the blog to let everyone know how things went. Then when I get home, I will tell you how it REALLY went!! :)

Here are a few pictures of my other babies taken last week!

Isabella's Birthday ~ Monday, Dec. 8th

My little girl just turned 3 years old on Monday! I can not believe how quickly she is growing and what a beautiful girl she is becoming (when she is not whining that is!!)! She is definitely my pride and joy, my baby girl!

It took Isabella a while to understand it was her birthday. It was a bit confusing to her since she already had her birthday party with Tyler a while back. But as the phone calls came in throughout the day from everyone calling to send her birthday wishes, she began to understand and just had a gorgeous, beaming smile with every phone call! She was so happy when Daddy finally came home from work and she got to open her presents. We had to repeatedly explain to her that the presents in front of the fireplace were the only ones she could open, NOT the ones under the tree! Even this morning she tried to go for the ones under the tree again!! She was very excited to get her baby dolls, princess dress, and Dora dollhouse!

I just want to thank everyone for making this day so special for her. I was so worried about her getting lost in all that is going on with awaiting Baby and since she already had her party .... I just didn't want my girl forgotten so THANK YOU!

Here are a few pictures from yesterday:

Getting Ready for Christmas

The kids have been having a great time getting ready for Christmas around the house. We began the day after Thanksgiving by decorating the tree. I let the kids decorate the tree first ... then I went back through and re-arranged (to put it nicely!)!!! I tried to get a picture of how well the kids decorated those 2 branches on the tree with ALL the ornaments, but a picture just never seemed to do it justice!! So here is what I did capture:

Last night Mason decided to tackle the Gingerbread house with the kids. I tried it for the first time in my life last year and it was an UTTER disaster so I had personally decided not to even mention it this year. I figured if I didn't bring it up, the kids wouldn't remember and it could just die a natural death. However, Mason thought it would be a breeze and decided to create one with the kids with the hopes of putting my mess last year to utter shame (not that that was hard to do!!) I guess I will start with the really bad picture of the really bad gingerbread house from last year:

Now Mason's "looks" neater but not near as decorative!!! Here is the one created last night:

Mason decided that it was harder than it looked! The kids had fun and I guess that is all that matters!

Now on to me and Baby. Today I am 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant and miserable. I didn't make it this far in either of the other 2 pregnancies, so this is new territory. I am very ready for this baby to come out but he seems to be very content where he is. I was thinking the other night about how the Lord uses 40 quite often ~ you have in the Bible 40 days/nights, 40 weeks, 40 years and it just hit me that a baby is suppose to be in the womb for 40 weeks. I don't know why it took me this long for that to dawn on me, but it did! And then I remembered how my friend Jen had reminded me at the beginning of this journey to try to find peace in the sickness and discomfort for this is the one thing I can do to help God create a miracle. So I am hanging on to that with every fiber of my being (and also trying to remember that when Baby does grace us with his presence, I have to get up every 3 hours to feed him!!). But, I just feel like screaming out to God "I know it is not 40 weeks, but isn't 38 weeks and some days good enough??"!! Well, the little guy is still hanging on and, to continue with the 40 theme, probably will be until he is 40 years old!

I have had some people ask for more pregnancy pictures since most loved ones are not here in Georgia to experience this with us. We went a little nuts last night:

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Too much food?

So this morning, Tyler and I are hanging out on the couch together waiting for everyone else to wake up. He asks me when the baby will come out and I tell him whenever God decides it is time. Then he looks up at me and says "Mom, how do you know there is a baby in there and not just too much food?"!!!!!!

Thanksgiving at Tyler's School

The colder weather arrived about a week or two ago!! YEAH!! It makes me very happy but with it comes a new battle of trying to convince the kids they need to put on their jackets before going outside. What you don't see is that they both have on their flip flops! Hey - you win some and you loose some, right?

Yesterday Tyler's school had their Thanksgiving Feast for the kids and their families. It was very nice. We got to come to his class and he was VERY proud as he took us around (dressed as an Indian) and showed us his work displayed around the room.
Then the kids preformed a few songs for us. It was soooo cute! Now I know what Tyler has been trying to sing around the house lately but never would share because he couldn't really remember the words!!!

I have to tell you, I was most impressed with the spread the kids had!! Maybe it is just because I am pregnant, but hey - FOOD! :) Tyler and Isabella enjoyed chowing down too!

It was a very nice time to spend with Tyler in his classroom and Tyler was very pleased his Daddy could come too. Now he is wondering when he can take the baby to see his school!

The Kids Birthday Party

OK - so this is a little late, but better than never!!


Tyler's Birthday
My precious baby turned 5 on November 6th. I can not believe he is not a toddler anymore but officially of boy! :( He woke up that morning very excited to open his presents but was quickly disappointed as we would only let him open one and then the remainder when he got home from Pre-K at 12:30. Isabella was also disappointed when she was asking for HER presents and we had to break the news to her that is wasn't her birthday. Poor baby girl!

When I picked him up from school, it was so sweet .... he seemed to expect there to be a party waiting for him here at the house! He asked me in the minute ride from school to home if all his friends were going to be at the house. He was very confused when I told him no! I reminded him that Daddy was home since he took the day off to be with Tyler but Tyler still seemed a bit disappointed that there was not an elaborate surprise party waiting for him! Here are a few shots of opening presents:

For his birthday dinner Tyler decided he wanted to go to Chuckee Cheese, which is somewhere we do NOT take him normally! In fact last time WE took him was when I was pregnant with Isabella and all he did was cry and throw fits! The second, and last time, he went was last Christmas when his Gammy and PawPaw took him. Mommy and Daddy do not make a habit of going there!! But ... .since it was the kid's birthday, we agreed. Here are a few pictures taken of that (when Isabella was still feeling well as she woke up in the middle of the night throwing up Chuckee Cheese - see? I told you, we do NOT go there and this is another reason why we shouldn't!!!)
After that, we came home and sang Tyler happy birthday. Here is his cake as the night ended:



Tyler and Isabella's Birthday Party

Tyler and Isabella had a double birthday party on November 8th. The theme was Bugs and Butterflies - bugs for the boys and butterflies for the girls. Tyler's classmates were invited to "Tyler's Party" and all mutual friends were invited to "Isabella's Party" so that no one felt like they needed to bring 2 presents or anything like that. Poor Tyler - he must have been set on a surprise party because when he woke up that morning and saw the guest room door closed, he expected all his friends to be hiding in there with presents for him! So he started his day disappointed!

The party went well - I thought anyways! There was an earthworm dig set up outside in a wheelbarrow, painting of butterflies, ladybugs, and bees set up on the house, and a table to make a bug home for the live ladybugs I was sending home with the kids (yes, the moms LOVED me!!). I thought the kids would have loved the painting most of all but you should have seen those kids go after the earthworms! The ladybug homes quickly turned into earthworm homes as the kids decided they wanted to take earthworms home too!!! Like I said, the moms loved me!!!! Here are a few pictures from the party:

The cake for the party was a huge ordeal in itself, or at least to me!!! Earlier in the week I ran across a recipe for a chocolate mousse filling for cupcakes that is also the frosting. I used this to make Tyler's birthday cake and the cupcakes for his class on his birthday. It was so yummy! So I got the bright idea to make the two cakes for the party - one as a worm and one as a butterfly. Well, I CAN"T use a can of frosting from the store, oh no, that is too easy! I decided I need to tweek the mousse recipe to be a white chocolate mousse recipe so I can tint the frosting and it still be yummy. Well .... I am not a cook so the idea of tweeking the recipe must have come at a moment of insanity!! Once I bought the stuff for the cakes, plus all the extra stuff to experiment with the mousse, the cake was going to be just as much as buying it PLUS all the time spent doing it myself. So I returned everything to the store and decided to pay the baker. Well .... Sam's and Wal-Mart both told me the same thing "We have the stuff for butterflies but nothing for bugs, sorry". One of the baker's even went as far as to tell me they can make a plain cake and I can do the decorating. Now why would I want to do that!!!?? So now I am running out of time and don't know where to get the cake!! So I end up at another grocery store and asked that baker only to be told the same story. This time I broke down and began to beg!! I said "PLEASE! Can't you just use your icing and make some green blobs and call it a worm and then make a black blob and call it a spider? PLEASE!!??". So then the baker decides she DOES have some sort of an imagination and accepts the task. This is what she came up with (I was very pleased):


I got Tyler and Isabella their own cupcake so they each had their own something to blow out:

Isabella was very happy because Becky got her the purple princess scooter that she has been talking about for the past several months and another friend got her a Belle Princess dress. Here are some pictures of how Isabella spent the rest of her day:

Tyler and his "best friends":


So my intentions were to also include Tyler's class Thanksgiving Feast that was held today, but I will have to do it later tonight or tomorrow. Wish me luck!