Baby 2 is HERE!

Luke Tyler

June 8, 2011

7 lb 4 oz

Because of Ann's preeclampsia, they induced her 3 weeks early for the safety of her and baby Luke.  They started the induction process last night (softening the cervix...which started contractions).  This morning around 9 or 10 am they started the pitocin (she was dilated to a 2).  Around 1:30 I decided to load up our stuff and take the boys to Tyler and Ann's house (which is 5 minutes rather than an hour from the hospital) to hang out until it was closer to time.  I told the boys we'd go swimming in their neighborhood pool and have fun until it was time for baby Luke to be born.  Tyler texted me at 2 pm and said, "She is at an 8 now!"  WHAT!?!?!  I had to call and verify over the phone that he hadn't just hit the wrong number while texting!  I was shocked (and very excited) at how fast her labor was going.  I didn't expect it to be so fast since she was 3 weeks early!  I hurried to get the boys in the car, pick up GG, and then we raced to the hospital.  We made it there just as Ann was starting to push!  She pushed for over an hour (and was really close to pushing him out) when all of the sudden her blood pressure went up and Luke's heart rate started to drop.  They didn't know why and the doctor wanted to make sure everyone was safe...so she opted for an emergency c-section. 

Luke Tyler was born at 4:44 pm and Tyler and Ann got to hear his sweet little cry before they rushed him off to the NICU to be evaluated.  His right lung was partially collapsed, but this was easily resolved.  He was put on a little oxygen to aid in his breathing (totally normal for a baby his age) and the doctor said he looked really good!  I couldn't believe how big he was considering he is 3 weeks early!  Imagine how big he'd have been if he was born at 40 weeks!!! 

Tyler was able to see Luke last night in the NICU and took this precious picture....

Mom stayed at the hospital until after the doctor evaluated Luke and she told me that the doctor said Luke is doing great.  It sounds like he may not even have to stay in the NICU the whole time Ann's in the hospital!  YAY! 

Matt brought Collin and Katelyn up to the hospital to see Ann and the boys somehow convinced Matt to let them have a sleepover at his house.  That means I'll have to go back to Flower Mound today to pick up Brody...and go see Tyler, Ann, and Luke ;)  I can't wait to actually see my new nephew in person!  I'm so happy for Tyler and Ann and know they are going to be amazing parents. 

Laney's Newborn Photo Shoot

I had so much fun taking pictures of sweet, little Laney!  She decided to forgo her typical afternoon nap...which meant it took us several hours to get a few pictures.  She wasn't very fond of laying still or falling asleep.  This meant we didn't get all the "diaper free" pictures that we wanted....but I think we still got some precious ones!  Take a look....

And here are a few extra pictures....just for fun :)

Laney on Jayden's toy chest with a quilt made by her great-great-great grandmother.

 

On a quilt made by her great-aunt Cherie...

 

Holding Laney!!!

On Saturday (after Collin's birthday party and Noah Roach's birthday party), we drove to Abilene to visit Laney (umm....I mean Mark, Angela, Jayden, Grammy, and Laney).  They boys were tired and slept the whole drive there, so they were in disbelief when they woke up to find that they were already in Abilene and were seconds away from meeting their new cousin!  Brody is probably the one who was the most excited to get to hold baby Laney.  I know...hard to believe that anyone would be more excited than me...but he's been waiting to hold a new baby for 9 months and that seemed much longer to him than it did to me!  He held her quite a bit this weekend.  Sometimes he'd come in from playing baseball outside just to hold his new little cousin.  It was super sweet to watch!

Barrett was also excited to hold Laney.  He required quite a bit more supervision while he held her.  It's hard to tell in these pictures, but she is TINY!!!!  She's just over 6 lbs and with her little features she is so much fun to just sit and watch.  She's gorgeous!

It wasn't all about babies this weekend.  There was LOTS of time to play ball in Mark and Angela's backyard.  They just moved into their first house and it was so much fun getting to see it and getting to stay with them for a change!  I know we'll get to spend quite a few weekends in Abilene in the years to come...and these boys love their cousin time!

One thing I remember about my days at ACU were the sunsets.  West Texas has some of the most beautiful sunsets!  This one was just beginning....

 

It was hot outside and the boys had fun playing in the sprinklers and then rolling in the grass....meaning baths were definitely in order!  Can you tell which boys have been swimming a lot already this summer?!?  Jayden looks just a little white next to Brody and Barrett! lol

There was also lots of time for reading.  Before naps on Sunday the boys cuddled up with Grammy on the couch to read a few books.

Don't worry...I got to hold Laney too ;)  I think pink looks good on me...don't you?!?

Stay tuned for pictures from the photo shoot I did of baby Laney!

Silly Boys

Today we celebrated Collin's 5th birthday (are they really about to be FIVE?!?!?)  I've said it before and I'll say it again...these cousins LOVE each other!  However, if you think for a second that they were willing to stop and give me a serious, smiling picture....you're wrong!  They hadn't even had cake yet...so it wasn't a sugar high.  I'll call it a cousin high...

Happy Birthday Collin!

Ann on Bedrest

Today Audria and I drove to Flower Mound to visit Ann.  Since she's on bedrest (in other words...she can't go to the park, the pool, or even the mailbox), I asked Anna to watch the boys for me so that we could have one last day of sister time before the babies arrive!  It was so much fun to spend the afternoon together talking....

lol!  No...we didn't really spend all afternoon on our phones, but I did find it humorous when I looked up to see both Ann and Audria texting on their phones!  So of course, I pulled out my phone and set up the camera for a photo op!

Tyler and Ann have Luke's room ready for him to come home to next week!  I can't believe that she's being induced on Wednesday!  We've been talking about this day for so long....and now it's finally here!  I can't wait to see baby Luke in the beautiful room that Tyler and Ann have decorated for him.

We had a wonderful day together.  I love my brothers dearly....but I'm so thankful that I have sisters!!! 
(Photography tip:  To make yourself look super skinny....pose with two women who are 9 months pregnant!  Just be careful.  No matter how skinny you think you are, the back of the couch is not very wide...and it is possible to fall off and land flat on your back!)

 

Last Muckdogs Game

Last night was Brody's last t-ball game for the season.  We had a team party before the game at Hide Out Burgers.  {Side note:  Hide Out Burgers has a burger called the Ghost Burger.  It is so hot that they make you sign a waiver before you order it and if you eat the whole thing you get your picture on their "Wall of Flame".  Mike is planning on going back to conquer the Ghost Burger.  You better believe there will be pictures to come!}

Brody is all business when it comes to baseball.  Most 4 years olds goof off in the dugout while they're waiting for their turn to bat.  Not Brody!  He stands at the fence and watches the game.  He is very focused during a t-ball game!

He was disappointed that he had to play short stop in the last game because "you don't get any balls hit to you at short stop!"  (Most of the action in t-ball is for the pitcher and 1st baseman.)  He did a great job hitting...and sliding into 1st base ;)    click on the collage to see larger pictures

Back Row: Coach Wade, Coach Eric, Coach Mike, Coach Ray
Middle Row: Corby, Sam,  Leo, Nolan, Aiden, Jack
Front Row: Brody, Cade J., Raven, Cade M., Kade M.
Not Pictured:  Seth  

 

After every game Brody begs Mike to play catch with him on the field.  Brody plays first base and practices catching the ball and tagging first.  Brody has really learned to catch the ball and can catch most pitches that Mike throws his way!  He definitely got his athletic ability from his daddy...I don't have near the hand eye coordination that Brody does!  We are so proud of him!  click on the college to see larger pictures

Brody with his favorite person in the world....his Daddy!  They had so much fun with t-ball this season and Brody's already begging to play next season.  I foresee many games in the years to come....

 

Alaskan Visit

One of my friends from the youth group, Jenny, moved to Alaska after she got married.  I haven't seen her much over the past 12 years, but we keep in contact via Facebook and through our blogs.  She has been in town for her Granny's funeral and called me up looking for some playmates for her kids today while her parents were at work.  My kids were super excited to have some new friends come over to play.  They quickly made friends with Preston (5 yrs), Payton (3 yrs), and Parker (11 months).  We went over to Daddy Steve and Namaw's for a while to play on their playground, went back to our house for lunch, and then swam for over 3 1/2 hours!  At Daddy Steve and Namaw's house, Preston and Brody found some treasures....BUGS!

Apparently there aren't rollie pollies in Alaska, so Preston thinks they are so cool and has been keeping them for his bug jar.  They also found some grub worms and were playing with them (gross!  they were getting their worm juice all over the boys hands *shiver*)

Our kids had a lot of fun playing together and Jenny and I had a great time catching up.  It made us sad that we live so far apart because we realized that we have a lot in common and would be close friends if we were in the same town!  Since they came to visit us in Texas....I think it's only fair that we take a trip up to Alaska to visit them ;) 

Laney Goes Home!!!!!

I got the text this morning that they released Laney to go home from the hospital! She has been in the Neonatal ICU since her birth (May 24th). She was delivered early and had fluid on her lungs, so she needed  supplemental oxygen to breathe. She's now breathing on her own and nursing well...so she gets to go home with Mark and Angela! Yay!! We plan to go visit sometime this weekend (meaning PICTURES SOON!!!!)

Memorial Day

It was great to have a long weekend together as a family!  This morning (after getting donuts!) we went to Putt Putt for a round of mini golf. 

Barrett actually attempted to play each hole this time!  In prior visits he'd give up by the 7th or 8th hole.  There were a few times that after the 300th try at a hole he'd just pick up the ball and drop it in...but most times he kept putting until he made it in the hole!

This evening we went over to Daddy Steve and Namaw's for our annual Memorial Day get together with the Rhodes.  I was too busy talking with Paula about photography and I didn't take very many pictures at all!  Everyone was there except Ann (who's still on bed rest and not allowed to leave the house except to go to the dr).  Here's Barrett, Kent, and Brody at the kids' table enjoying the delicious pulled pork that Mike spent all day smoking (along with other food).

Kent (like most little boys) LOVED being outside.  We spent most of the evening outside watching the guys play badminton (or "Bad Men" as Brody insisted it's called). 

Dinner with Jamie

Yesterday Daddy Steve and Namaw invited us over for dinner with Jamie and her family.  Daddy Steve and I have gotten to know Jamie at the gym and she is super sweet!  Brody loves getting to play with her daughter, Kori (sp?), at the gym and was excited to get to play with her all evening.  To Kori's disappointment, he wasn't quite as excited to play with her when he met her brother, Austin.  Instead, Brody spent the evening playing baseball and tag with Austin and Barrett while the rest of us watched.  Baby Lola was too cute not to take pictures of!

I finally walked over and gathered some of the neighborhood girls to come play with Kori.  She was happy to finally have someone to swing with her!

Baby Lola...

 

Barrett, Austin, and Brody playing baseball...

Brody finally sat down and talked with Kori when I brought out drinks and a snack.

Again...the irresistible Lola! 

 

Ann's Work Shower

On Monday Namaw and I drove to Grapevine for Ann's work shower.  I think they were originally just going to invite Ann's mom & MIL, but I told her I wanted to go too so that I could meet all the people that I hear about every day!  The shower was at Ferrari's Italian Villa.  Can you say YUMMMMM!!!!  There was a buffet of food set out just for Ann's shower and it was all delicious!

It was fun to finally be able to put a face with the names of people that Ann tells me about from work.  They were all so sweet!  We played several games and had lots of laughs.  There was so much food there that they called in the cavalry...aka Tyler! 

After a weekend of showers, Tyler and Ann have a bunch of organizing to do!  Not much longer and we'll get to see Luke using all of the cute things they got at their showers!

Stormy Game

Tuesday night it was Barrett's turn to go to the Ranger's game...just him and Daddy!  He was sooooo excited for alone time with Daddy!  When I asked if I could take a picture of them he ran and clung to Daddy's leg for the picture.  It's so fun to watch our boys show their admiration Mike!

Brody didn't get to go to the game with Mike, but he did get to go to the game!  Billy Rhodes had a few extra tickets and invited Daddy Steve and Brody to join him at the game.  I had a list a mile long to work on...and I did get some of it accomplished while they were gone...but my main job became weather girl!

When they left for the game, we knew that there were storms in the area, however, most of the storms had been staying north of us.  Mike texted at one point asking about the weather and said that his phone was almost dead.  At that point I told him it looked like they might get rain...but that the serious stuff (hail and tornadoes) would stay north of them.  Well....the storm grew!  Before long I'm looking at the TV watching a big storm with a large hook echo headed straight for the Ballpark at Arlington!  I texted and tried to call Mike...but his phone had already died.  Daddy Steve texted and told me that they were being herded into the tunnels underneath the stadium (Brody was super excited to tell me about this when they got home because they go to go on the FIELD! and through the dugout to get to the tunnels!!!!  He also got to see where the Rangers park their personal vehicles.)  We heard reports of golf ball to baseball size hail at the stadium and I was praying that a tornado wouldn't wipe out the stadium and take my whole family with it! 

Just as Daddy Steve texted to see if I'd heard from Mike yet...in the door walked Mike and Barrett!!!  He said that he'd been watching the sky and saw clouds starting to swirl in different directions.  He was thinking, "Should we go...or should we stay...I don't know?!??"  Just then Barrett looked up at him and said, "I'm ready to go home now!"  Mike took that as his sign to hurry home.  He ran to the car with Barrett on his shoulders and made it just before the downpour.  Thankfully he made it out of there just before he hail and strong winds...and they made it home safe and sound.

The hook echo did not produce a funnel cloud (praise the Lord!) and Daddy Steve and Brody finally made it home a little before 11 pm.  Brody's disappointment about the game being postponed was put aside because of the excitement of getting to go on the field and through the dugout.  Barrett....well...he'd had enough of sitting at the game by the 3rd inning...so he was perfectly happy to have come home when they did and extremely proud that he got to go to a Rangers game with Daddy!

Ann's Baby Shower

Last Saturday was Ann's baby shower.  It was fun to get together with friends and family to celebrate the new little baby that's about to join our family!  It's a good thing it was last weekend...because this week Ann was put on bedrest because of high blood pressure.  If you know Ann...you know that it won't be easy for her to be on bedrest.  She's not the type to just sit around the house all day doing nothing!  She tried to convince the doctor to let her stop by Babies R Us on her way home to pick up a few last minute things...but the doctor said, "No!  Get home and lay down!"  I'm glad Tyler's there to take care of her.

Here are a few pictures from the beautiful shower last Saturday...(click on the collages to see them larger)
Top left:  Lou Ann (Ann's mom), Grandma Nix (Lou Ann's mom), Ann, GG, and Namaw
Bottom Left:  All the preggos at the shower...Audria, Kristan, Ann, Lauren, and Cassie

Tyler made a surprise appearance at the shower via video!  It was a super cute video that Caleb did per the request of the shower hostesses.  He asked Tyler questions like, "When will Luke be born?", "When will Luke first start organizing?", and "What traits from you and Ann do you hope to see in your son?"  It was both funny and tear jerking!  Great idea!!!

Top Left:  Staci & Ann

Middle Left:  Namaw, Cindy, and Jan (can you tell Namaw and Jan are sisters?  Even after more than half a century of sisterhood...they still dress alike! lol)

Middle Right:  Susie and Amanda

Bottom Left:  (Shower Hostesses) Kady, Lauren, Kristan, (Ann), Ashley, Jamie

Bottom Right:  Lauren, Ann, & Katelyn

Today's Big Day #1

We're about to have baby overload in our family!!!!!  It all begins today with the impending birth of Laney.  Please join me in prayer for a safe delivery.  Angela is schedule for a c-section at noon.  I'll update when I know more!

Lots of Showers!

I got to go to 2 shower for Ann in the past few days...but my pics are stuck on my camera.  I took them in RAW format and my Lightroom 3 trial has expired.  I'm waiting for the full version to arrive so I can get the pics off my camera and into a format I can post on here.  Until then...you'll have to wait!