Ty's Birth Story

12/28/16 It makes me sad to think that I never fully documented Ty's birth story.  I sort of did an outline that I was probably planning to come back to to fill in the details but of course, never did.  I love going back to read Luke's and Paige's stories so I'm going to do my best to remember everything I can....

Work was getting super stressful.  We had a special audit going on and I was the point person for it.  So as I'm trying to make sure everything is ready for my leave, I was also trying to make sure this audit was going well.  Around noon-ish I was feeling some contractions and decided I needed to leave.  To be honest, it was more so that I was just completely over work and was on the verge of tears dealing with the auditor so I just needed to go before I lost it at work.  I fully expected to be back the next day.  (When the auditor came back the next day, but I didn't, my co-workers joked with her that she put me into labor.  The funny thing is, I think that is actually mostly true - ha!)

I didn't pick the kids up from daycare on my way home so I decided to just take a peaceful walk with Nala and maybe start to get something going.

I continued to feel "something" so I decided to go for another walk around 8:45 PM.  I still wasn't convinced this was it though.  I'm not sure why I was in Paige's bed at about 10 PM (maybe she woke up and I laid back down with her), but while laying there, I felt a small trickle.  I wasn't certain but I thought maybe my water broke.  I got up and went to tell Wally what happened.  It continued to slowly trickle down my leg.  There was no big gush.

It was time to call our parents so we had someone with Luke & Paige before we headed to the hospital.  Oddly enough, Wally's parents were in Joliet at the casino and were just getting ready to leave to head home.  His mom had this weird intuition and just felt like they needed to be close that night (crazy!)  So they made their way to Monee rather than back to Peru.  I still wasn't feeling much as far as contractions went.  I do remember Wally sitting down at the kitchen table and eating.  He said he knew he might not get to eat again for awhile so he wanted to fill his stomach.  I mean seriously - cracks me up!  With Paige he needed to shower before we left and now he needs to eat.  Who is the one that will be doing all the work???  Ha!

We headed to the hospital around midnight.  At 12:30 I was only at 2 cm and still very thick.  I was super discouraged because I knew there was a long night ahead of us.  I was beginning to wonder why we came to the hospital so early in labor.

We started walking the halls - up and down, back and around - over and over!  Around 2:25 walking became more difficult as the contractions picked up.  I was still hoping for no epidural but needed something.  They gave me some Stadol (pain medicine) around 3 AM to take the edge off.  I was still only at 3 cm but was finally thinning out.  I fell asleep for about a half hour and woke up feeling the need to push.  When they checked me at about 3:45, I was at 9 cm.  Hallelujah!  It turned out that the Stadol relaxed me enough to let my body work. 

The doctor was on her way - I pushed for about 5 minutes and Tyler Jeffrey was born at 4:17 AM!

It truly was a great labor & delivery.  I was blessed with 3 great deliveries and 3 beautiful, healthy babies. 

 

After School at the Park

(From September 25th)



Ty says "This way to the swings!"



















Back to the swings!













Oops!









The outakes!





After the park we headed to Daddy's school for the Homecoming parade!

Hello! Ty is 15 Months Old

Unfortunately, I am not very good about updating this blog anymore.  I wish I could make the time to update with all of the crazy, funny, outrageous things that happen on a daily basis in this family, but sadly it will probably be limited to larger events and occasions (if that!) and just some random picture posts in mass every few months or after my Grandpa calls asking for the blog link because he got a new computer and lost it (that's what made me get on today!).

Right now...

Our baby boy is 15 months old already and a crazy monkey boy! 

Our little girl is as sweet and sassy as always!

Our big boy is soooo smart and loving school (and bubble baths)!

Here is a quick update about Ty and some pics!

Ty has certainly mastered and surpassed all of the physical milestones at 15 months.  This kid is running (as quickly as those legs and belly will go) and climbing...the climbing!  Ugh!  The good news though is that he gets it now.  He knows he has to slide down the couches and stairs on his belly.  He LOVES climbing onto the beds(he literally grabs on with all his little fingers might and pulls and pulls until he makes it up).  The cutest part about that though is that he usually brings a book with him and curls up to read in the bed.

He loves balls and baskets of any sort!  With Luke and Paige in soccer this fall, he has mastered kicking the soccer ball around too.  He seriously is the best little dribbler.  Everyone always got a good laugh watching him dribble the ball around while we were at soccer games & practices.  He always has a bat and ball nearby and recently started going for the golf club too.

He is a boy of few words so far.  He can say "all done" and "down" and a whole bunch of other stuff we don't understand.  Here and there we hear "bye" and "hi", but nothing is very consistent.  I used to worry about this stuff, but not anymore (not yet anyways).  Paige was the same way.  She turned 2 and started talking and hasn't stopped!  He certainly is babbling a lot more these days so the words will come.  He knows how to get what he needs/wants - pointing is his favorite!  And he understands everything we say to him.  Sadly, he has also learned the art of tantrums.  He collapses to the ground quite often lately!

Some of his favorite things besides sports are: dancing (the cutest!), playing swords with Luke (yeah...ugh!), feeding Nala during mealtimes (not cool!), playing outside (obsessed!), napping (such a good boy!), brushing his teeth and taking a bath (he goes running to the bathroom when he hears those words!), turning the tv on and off while we are watching something (stinker!), cheering for the Cubs (seriously, he does!), emptying the cupboards in the kitchen (so messy!), reading books (he can't get enough these days!), making silly faces (he has the best expressions), and giving hugs and kisses (ok, maybe that's MY favorite!).

He truly is amazing!  Life certainly got crazier when he came along, but I can't even imagine not having him around.  He is loved so much by all of us and is just the cutest guy ever!  That blond hair and those big green eyes melt me everyday!

A New School Year

It's hard to believe but another summer has flown by and it's time for a new school year!

This might actually be one of my favorite times of the year.  As a non-teacher working parent, I don't get to enjoy the everyday fun that summer brings.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE summer, but I also love fall and getting back into a routine. This is "reset" time for me. I really get back into meal planning and organization because that's what makes a happy house (and momma) and a smooth day/night. It also helps that the kids are still at an age where they are excited to get back to school.  There is nothing like spending everyday with your best friends even if you are learning.

This year we have a first grader (say what?!?!).  Luke started school on Monday.



He walked into school with a big smile and came out with one too. 



Luke's teacher is Mrs. Niemiec. He has about 6 of the same kids from his class last year so that's always good to have some familiar faces.



(Mommy chalk fail)



Ty and Paige had a special day home with mommy!



Paige is in 4-year old preschool this year.  She started on Tuesday. We are doing the full-day program just like we did last year. 



All my concerns about the full-day program prior to the start of last school year are gone.  She had a fabulous year and I know this year will be the same.  Her teacher is Mrs. Rachanski.



Isn't she just the cutest in her jumper? :)



These 2 were totally into it for me that morning!



Next week starts a new adventure for Ty too. We are changing daycares. We've been at the same place since Luke was a baby so this is a big change for all of us, but it will definitely simplify our life by eliminating some extra driving.



Here's to a great school year for all of us!

ONE great baseball party!

I pretty much knew before Ty was born that we were going to go with a baseball-themed birthday party.  I had been taking his monthly pictures with a baseball bat all along.



The day of his party was the hottest day of the year up to that point.  It was a great day to be in the water!  We actually had a short sprinkle of rain come through and it helped to cool things off a bit.









We had popcorn & peanuts & cracker jacks! And nachos and hot dogs and twizzlers - all of your ballgame favorites. And, of course, beer!















Along with the food was all of our favorite people!









He's ready to dive right into the party!





"I'm ready for cake!"







I think he couldn't even believe this was all his at first!



He almost went face first but we all were yelling and excited about it that I think we scared him and he stopped.  Darn!



He was willing to share!





And then he just got silly!



And enjoyed the whole thing!













Party in the pool!





Little Mr. Graham Templeton



And present time!



Ty had many helpers!



(Notice the threat of severe weather on the tv, but we were good!)







The "thank you" spot!



It was ONE great party!



(These 4 were in the pool until almost 9 PM!)