The Details

So, I had a baby... Want the details?

My doc scheduled me to go into the hospital to be induced on Monday at 7:30 a.m. Right at 7 a.m. as we were about to leave, the hospital calls me and tells me that they are full and they will call back when they have room. Devastating. I didn't want to wait one minute longer than I had to. In my over dramatic crazy end of pregnancy mind, I now assumed that it would be DAYS before they called me to come in. Meanwhile I smashed my fingers with the sliding doors on the girl's closet and that sent me over the edge! I cried and cried because the whole world hated me and nobody cared. But then, at about 8:45 a.m. they called back and said to come on over. All better. My world was happy once again.

We had to do a little more waiting in the hospital lobby but no worries, in a huge coincidence, Dale's friend from work and his wife where there to be induced that same day. We shot the breeze together until I was called back.

They put me in a bed and about 10 minutes later before the nurses had me hooked up to a single thing, my doc comes in and breaks my water. So it's like that, huh? The nurses scrambled to get me on the pitocin and various other IV's (I have to be on penicillin when I give birth.) Unfortunately, I have terrible veins, once described by another nurse as "baby veins," and so 5 pokes and 3 nurses later I had one precariously and painfully placed IV and several pieces of tape on my right arm.

Soon after the big contractions started. I waited to get my epidural until I couldn't take it anymore. I had one huge one and that was it for me. I called the nurse and about a minute later, Mary, a darn good anesthesiologist and my new best friend came wheeling in and took away all my pain...ahhhhh. Then it was time to wait. And wait.

Thank goodness we all had this to focus our minds on.
The only entertainment I had was T.V. and I swear it was on EVERY channel. When I look back on things, I don't know what I will have more memories of. My son's birth or this whole MJ stuff. He's dead. We get it.

Anyway, early in to the evening things started to move along quickly. Here's Dale ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
And at 7:11 p.m. we welcomed Gunner into the world!
I was SO glad to hear his cries because Ella's birth was a very scary situation. She wasn't in too good of shape when she came out and she didn't cry for a long time which was terrifying. Gunner cried right away and it was music to my ears.

Dale and I laughed when we first saw him. First, he looked exactly like Rex and second, he was HUGE. Rex was my biggest baby before him and he was exactly 8lbs. In no way whatsoever was I expecting a 9lb 3oz baby! No wonder I was incredibly uncomfortable these past 2 weeks! I was carrying Super Baby (as Dale lovingly calls him.)

Here is the little chunk after his first bath.
The proud dad.
The proud Aunt Magi.
Ironically, even though he was my biggest baby he was my easiest labor. All of my other kids had to be yanked out because of breathing and heart rate problems but he had no trouble at all. I'm proud to say that I finally pushed one out all on my own! What a funny thing to be proud of.

We took these just before we left the hospital.
He did lose quite a bit of weight in the hospital. Apparently, my body doesn't make enough food to satisfy such a giant boy. Hopefully, I will catch up.

The kids were so thrilled when we brought him home and demanded to hold him right away.

The Little Mommy
The Cool Big Brother
The Little Big Sister
We all just love our new baby boy. He really is just a sweetie pie. Just don't let him get hungry. He gets real mad at you.

Gunner Luke

Weighing in at 9 lbs. 3 oz. and 22 inches, it's Gunner Luke Morris! Gunner and I are both happy and healthy and glad to be home. We think he looks just like Rex did, but fatter.

It's Tomrrow!

Tomorrow's the big day! I tried and tried to go into labor beforehand so I wouldn't have to be induced. But no such luck. I really have no room to complain, I'm still having the baby before my due date. I would just rather go into labor than be induced.

Even though this is the 4th time around, I still am nervous. Ella's birth was pretty scary so I'm still a little scarred from that. I just want to have my baby boy in my arms and know that he is okay.

Can't wait to meet you, little dude!

Hero Candids

In between rescuing citizens and arresting evil villains, the superhero practices his flying on the couch.

37 Weeks And Counting...

I had my 37 week appointment today. Three weeks to go seems like it might as well be 3 years. When my doc checked me (no progress of course) I told her I wouldn't tell anyone if she "accidentally" broke my water. She laughed but she was probably thinking "suck it up, prego."

Anyway, the one thing that I love about my doc is that she is totally down with inducing. This will be my 3rd child that she has delivered and has offered to induce labor for all of them. She called the hospital and scheduled me for July 6th. A whole week before my due date! A week may not be long to some, but to me, it's merciful. It will also be merciful to my family because they are all tired of going up and down the stairs to get things for me. So there is an end in sight, hooray!

*Warning* Soap Box Time:
I am getting increasingly bummed out by how many other women I know that get criticized and receive mean looks out in public for having sooooooo many kids. Like it's just the wost thing ever. Forgive me for my lack of understanding but how could anyone think having lots of kids is a bad thing? I happen to make awesome kids and those awesome kids are going to take care of the world someday so the way I see it, I'm doing YOU a favor! Having lots of kids not for you? Fine, it's not like every time I have another child I'm taking something away from you though your attitude towards me makes me think you believe otherwise. I'm just so mad about how every one's points of view about motherhood, the beauty of family, and raising children have just gone south. When women with lots of kids go out, instead of being praised for being a good capable woman who loves being a mother, they are made to feel like her and the kids with her are some sort of circus act and it's something to laugh and point fingers at. Even scoff at sometimes. So sorry everyone who's ever given me an odd look or mean comment when I'm out with my precious children. Sorry I didn't go after that high powered career and by doing so, sparing you the sight of me out with all of my kids. I'm SUCH a horrible person for reproducing!

Keep Your Trap Shut!

So I'm at Target tonight and as I'm approaching the check out lanes a cashier looks down at my 9 month prego belly, takes a rather long gander, looks up and says to me right out loud in front of everyone within earshot "We have electric wheelchairs, you know." Wha???? Are you a caveperson? What planet do you come from where it's okay to make a comment like that to a pregnant woman? I look right back at her and while trying my best to keep the snide out of my voice (not really) I say, "No thanks, I'm perfectly mobile." Thank you very much. Then she backtracks and says "When I was pregnant I felt like I needed one sometimes." Well I don't care what you and your fat can needed, keep your comments to yourself!

What is it with some people who think that when they see a pregnant person they think she's fair game when it comes to stupid comments?

Pinkalicious Party!

Call me silly and girly but pink is my fave color. I don't know why. I suppose it just reminds me of fun and happiness. So when Tabby said she wanted a Pinkalicious Party for her 6th birthday I was all "Let's DO this!" My sis Magi came up with the theme and I was thrilled when Tabby liked the idea.

If you have never heard of Pinkalicious it is actually a children's book:
Tabby has always adored this book (our copy is very tattered from its many readings.) It's about a little girl who eats too many pink cupcakes and turns pink. This book makes a great theme for a little girls party!

Here are the invites:
They were a lot of fun to make.

So two days before Tabby's party, I came down with the Worst Sinus Infection Ever. I have seriously never been sicker. The drugs I got weren't doing a thing and my face and teeth hurt so bad from all the pressure that I was brought to tears at some points. Anyway, if it weren't for Dale and my sis doing pretty much everything to get ready for the party, I don't know what we would have done. Saturday morning I felt a teeny bit better so I was able to do a lot of decorating and also enjoy the party but Magi and Dale really did most everything!

Here are some pics of the fun day:

As party favors, each girl got a pink tu-tu (made by magi) and a big "diamond" ring. I stacked all the tu-tu's up by the front door. Eiffel towers make great tu-tu holders.

My house is pinkafied:
Sheets of crepe paper for $0.99 at Hobby Lobby made fun flowers.Get a load of this cake Magi made! She made a giant version of the ones in the book!
And mini ones too!
These are Rice Krispy pops on a stick (recipe here.) I really wanted them at the party but there was no way I could make them being as sick as I was. So Dale made them! And they looked awesome. I was going to type that they looked adorable but he wouldn't like it if I said he made something adorable so I will say that they looked awesome.
For the first activity, each girl got a tiara to decorate.
Then we did the pinata.
Grandma took on Dale's usual role of being the pinata smasher and did a pretty good job of it. Seriously, do they even make pinatas that little kids can break?
The pinata bursts and there is a sea of pink with a little blue. Sorry, I wasn't about to dress my son in pink for the party.
Look at all these cute little pinkies!
I love Tabby's reaction to the cake.

Then it was time for presents. Rex stood closely by just in case Tabby needed help opening things. I believe it's a rule that every younger sibling has to do that.
Then we set up a small inflatable pool in the backyard for some "fun." I'm so mad because I didn't take any pics of this part. It was actually quite hilarious. I really didn't think about what it would be like to have 12 girls and a few boys play in a tiny pool in a tiny backyard. It was pretty much a screaming splash fest verging on a brawl. I could only stand it for a little while until I had to pull the plug for my own sanity and for every child's well being. Luckily, parents had started to come pick up their kids at that point.

The best part was after the party when Tabby thanked me over and over for giving her the "best party ever" and said I was the "best mom ever."

Awww, thanks Tabs! Anything for you!

Tabby Is 6 Pics

Tabby turned 6 on Sunday! My mom and I did a fun photo shoot with her. I thought she'd think it was cool and feel like a princess but she was over it about 5 shots in. I had to bribe her with things all the way through. When she gets older, she'll thank me because these pictures are stinkin' cute.

We Were Tested!

Dude. The most cliche thing happened to us last night. It was the old "what would you do if you found money that didn't belong to you" test. We were at the grocery store last night and we were about to turn down an aisle when I saw Dale silently swoop down really fast and pick up something by my feet. At first I was freaked out thinking he was trying to save me from a rodent or nasty critter of some sort but then I see that it is crumbled up money! He looks at it closer as we go down the aisle and no joke, it's a $100 dollar bill! WHATEVER! That just doesn't happen! For a split second, I thought "Yes!!!" But then we both looked at each other and knew that it had to be turned in. It didn't belong to us. Dale took it up to the front where of course, the lady was astounded that somebody would hand that in. He did leave his name and number just in case nobody claimed it. Yeah right. I'm sure one of the employees probably "claimed" it. But no matter, I'm not worried about what happens to it, all I care about is that we did the right thing. But ugh. $100? That may not be a lot of money to some, but to us? Ouch. I am glad it happened though because our kids were there and we were able to teach them a lesson about doing the right thing. No matter how un-fun the right thing may be!

Beating the Heat

Have you been to the new water play area at the Phoenix zoo? It's awesome! I wish I had one just like it in my backyard. Forget the animals, the kids just wanted to spend the whole day there. My mom brought her camera and got some pretty good shots of the day.

Tabby loving the waterfall.
Rex coming out of the slide on his belly. Looks fun, wish I could try!
Ella looking kinda ticked on her zebra.
Tabby looking cute on the carousel.
While I was in the bathroom with Rex and Ella, my mom took some pics of Tabby. I have to say she looks so beautiful. I can't believe she's gonna be 6 this Sunday.
How did she get to be so darling? She must have a very handsome daddy!

White Velvet Couch

My sis and I have been having fun designing outfits for each other on Polyvore. It's a complete waste of time but so entertaining. Anyway, I designed a living room for my mansion that I will one day surely have. Sexy, no?

I asked Dale if he liked it. He said "Sure, that will be the room I will never go in."

BTW, how long do you think that white couch would last before my kids threw up/dumped food/colored on it? I think it only costs $3000.00.

Bike Skillz

Last week Rex decided he was going to ride his bike without training wheels. Well, more like I bribed him with getting a Bumblebee Transformer. I didn't ever want to force the kid but he wouldn't let Dale or I take off those darn training wheels! I knew he could ride without them if he just tried but he was so worried about crashing that he was not letting us come near those training wheels with a wrench! So I came up with the one offer I knew he couldn't refuse. As soon as I said "Bumblebee Transformer" he was all over it. I honestly think it took him 10 minutes from us holding him up to him riding all by himself. And the worry about crashing? He fixed that himself. Every time he wanted to stop he would ride over to the bushes and fall in them. Now his skills have improved and he can hop off but it was pretty hilarious watching him teeter over and letting the bush catch him.

Here's a video of his first ride without help:




Do you see him heading over to the bushes at the end of the clip?
And yes, he is now the proud owner of a Bumblebee Transformer!

Good job, buddy!