two weeks later

It's been two weeks since our family grew by one and it has flown!  Micah and Connor spent the first 6 days at my parents so that we could recuperate and get to know our little Logan man.  Then my parents brought them up and stayed the next 6 days to help out and celebrate Thanksgiving with us.  This just means that technically I am only on the 3rd day of being in charge of all three of them on a daily basis.  It's quite amazing how something so little can I have such a drastic impact on your day to day life.  It's also amazing how much I am able to block out from the first two experiences.  Lack of sleep, days full of non stop caretaking, and the inability to go run the simplest errand are just a few things my brain is adjusting to.  Thankfully it hasn't taken me long to remember these things, just need more time to adjust back to them!!  I've mentally prepared myself that the next 3-6 months are going to require some flexibility on my part when it comes to household things that three weeks ago were easy to fit into the daily routine.  Just pre planning the fact that things aren't going to get done has already helped immensely.  This way if Zach or I are able to get even the smallest thing done it feels like a HUGE accomplishment :)  I sure wish it hadn't taken me until child number 3 to figure this all out!  This is not to say I won't have a 'this house is a wreck and I never have time to get anything done' freak out occasionally but acceptance is the first step right!?  In the meantime all 4 of us are loving cuddling with our new baby boy/brother and doing pretty well with all the hiccups that come your way when a newborn enters your life!

p.s. could all of you please remind me of everything I just said in two + weeks when my mental preparedness could potentially fly out the window ;)

Now on to adorable pictures of my sweet Logan! 

newborn photoshoot

Zach took Logan's newborn pictures this past week.  I officially have three of the cutest blond boys to ever have walked the earth!

pumpkin smashing

The day after Thanksgiving is Christmas decorating day.  Our pumpkins from Southern Belle were still in great shape but they don't really fit into my Christmas decor.  Micah and Zach volunteered to get rid of them for me...

Their method was A LOT of fun!  I wish you could have heard the screams and wows and oh grosses coming from their mouths as pumpkin guts shot all over the yard.  Pretty sure this will be a yearly tradition!

Thanksgiving Day

We had a semi quiet Thanksgiving numbers wise but Micah and Connor made up for it in noise!  They have had quite an exciting week being back home, my parents being here and loving on Logan.  Justin, Stephanie and Silas joined us for our Thanksgiving meal because her family had to leave the day before and they didn't have anything else to do until later that evening.  It was fun sharing the holiday with them.  My older brother and his oldest daughter Haley drove up from his in-laws in Newnan for the afternoon as well which Micah LOVED!  It's not often his cousins get to come here so he enjoyed showing them his home for a change.  They spent the majority of the time finding sticks and leaves to throw in the fire pit and and loved every second of it.  It was a fun and exhausting day which I guess is usually the case, even more so when there is a 9 day old who needs attention as well.  I'm very thankful for my family and friends and the amazing blessings God continues to provide in our lives!

Our Thanksgiving table

The new little turkey

Mican and Haley on a leaf hunt
Haley just recently had surgery on her foot hence the cast and walker

Connor's leaf collection

They love how HUGE the fire gets after a fresh batch of leaves

Joining the party

Help from papa

Give Thanks

At Thanksgiving, the song that always comes to my mind is Give thanks with a grateful heart...  I even wrote the first line on my new chalkboard.  The other day I was staring at it and started wondering why did the writer add 'with a grateful heart' after Give thanks.  I mean isn't that kind of implied with giving thanks?  The more I thought about it the more I realized how often many of us say thank you not because we are grateful for something given to us but because we feel as if we deserve it and the thanks is just the right thing to say.  Today, and all days after, I pray that my heart and mind realizes how truly thankful I should be because I am so undeserving of everything God has so graciously given me.  I pray that each and every time I do give thanks it is with a full and grateful heart knowing that I've done nothing, yet still God has given me everything!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Logan's Story

Logan’s Story

                Whether or not to have a 3^rd child was never a question in our hearts.  We knew we were doing it, we just were waiting until we felt the time was best for our family.  We waited a few months longer than we did before trying for a 2^nd child because of semi selfish reasons.  I really wanted to get through the summer with Micah and Connor without having a newborn.  They were both at such fun ages that we both wanted to have an easier summer with them before we shook up their world with a baby.

                After two months we found out in March that we were expecting our 3^rd sweet bundle.  I knew exactly what date to watch for and ended up taking a pregnancy test three days before that and ended up with a positive result.  It was such a different feeling this time.  There weren’t many nerves as with the first because it’s all brand new or the second because wow there’s going to be more than one.  This time it was more like, alright let’s do this!  My pregnancy was way easier than the first two times around.  I was exhausted for only a couple weeks.  The worst of the sickness was gone by week 10 and while it popped up occasionally the whole time it was so rare that it didn’t bother me a bit.  I gained 10 less pounds this time around and passed my glucose test the first time without having to do the 3 hour test.  Looking back I wonder if God designed the rest of it to be ‘easier’ because he knew one part of it was going to be difficult for me.

                The hardest part of the pregnancy happened at 20 weeks.  We had two precious boys and in my heart of hearts I wanted a sweet girl to add to the mix.  I wanted the opportunity to be the mommy of a girl, to share in all the different aspects that would come along.  I tried to prepare myself to be ok if it were a boy and thought I had until the ultrasound.  The moment she told me it was a boy I had the reaction that I soo did not want to have…I cried.  I was not sad it was a boy because I knew I would love him unconditionally and think he was the cutest, sweetest, most handsome thing just like his brothers.  I was sad that all the scenarios that come along with a girl suddenly were dashed and my heart didn’t know how to handle it.  It took some serious prayer time and trust in God’s always perfect plan to get used to the idea and even in the next months situations would pop up that would send my brain back to square one and my heart asking God for complete joy.  He brought me that joy and then some throughout the rest of the pregnancy.

                My due date was set for November 16, the day after my 30^th birthday, and I hoped hoped hoped he would come before that so that I could still be in my 20s when he was born.  The only thing I didn’t want was for him to be born on my birthday.  Glad I had my plan all straight so that when it happened completely OPPOSITE of that I was given a big reminder of God is in control and not me.  I woke up several times Tuesday which just happened to be the morning of my 30^th birthday.  By 4:30 very mild contractions had started but they were very frequent at 5 minutes apart.  When Zach’s alarm went off at 5:30 I told him what was going on and that he might not want to drive into Atlanta.  I’m pretty sure he was ok with that because he went back to sleep immediately.  I tried to sleep a little but gave up by 6:30 and went to take a shower because if this was ‘it’ I atleast wanted to be clean before I went!  Zach woke up, fixed me a birthday breakfast, and helped me get the boys ready for school.  I was STRUGGLING.  The contractions were still coming every 5 minutes and getting more intense but I was trying to not let it show too much because the first time I closed my eyes and made a face during one of them Micah got really nervous!  I had already called my parents, Stephanie and Leslie to let them know what was going on and that I was planning to call the doctor’s office as soon as they opened.  By the time Zach was leaving to take the boys to preschool the contractions were really strong and still coming 5 minutes apart so I let him know I wanted to go to the hospital as soon as he got back!!  We finished packing the rest of our stuff, dropped the boys’ car seats off with Steph and headed to the hospital.

                I went to triage so they could monitor my contractions but due to an emergency it took over an hour for them to check for any progress.  I was at 4 cm before they even moved me into a real room.  From then they moved quickly to start an IV, get the fluid going, and watch the INSANELY BORING epidural video so that I could get my epidural as soon as possible.  By 1:30 the anesthesiologist came and hooked me up  J  The next 2 hours were quite nice as I was pain free.  Zach and I sat and talked and waited for our family to get there, hoping it was it time to meet him.  Some point they had to start pitocin because my contractions had died down a bit but it didn’t take long to get them going again.  Unfortunately around 3:15 I got a hot spot which basically means there was a part that the epidural was no longer reaching.  They tried getting me to lie on my side but it was not working so Zach asked them to call back the anesthesiologist.  The nurse came in and checked me before she called and then let me know that I was at a 9-10 and informed me she knew a sure fire way to get the pain to stop.  I was not excited about her way!  Regardless of my feelings, it was time.  Dr. Cowthorn came in and the pushing process started.  It took all of about 5 minutes.  Crazy!  When they laid that sweet boy on my chest my heart burst.  He was PRECIOUS!!  We were both shocked to see he looked exactly like his two big brothers.  He had the same sweet nose and lips and same beautiful blonde hair.  I sat staring at him the whole time they were weighing him and cleaning him up and thinking how amazing it will be to raise my three boys.  Knowing in that moment that God of course knows what is perfect for me and whether or not I ever have a daughter, my heart is unbelievable full and blessed to have three precious boys that I pray will grow to become amazing men of God just like their daddy!

                Zach went to the waiting room and got Micah, Connor, my parents, his mom, Leslie and Stephanie who were all anxiously awaiting to meet and learn the name of our 3^rd son.  Micah had done such a great job keeping the secret the whole time and we wanted him to be the one to share it.  He got a little shy though so it was up to me.  I started my sentence this is Logan and stopped.  I couldn’t say his middle name without crying so I had to gain some composure before I finished.  This is Logan Zachary May.  His brothers, while nervous during the visit, didn’t take long to become completely infatuated with him.  I have to say the best part of the day was watching Micah and Connor hold their brother, knowing this was just the beginning of a brotherhood and friendship that will last their whole lives! 

Logan Zachary May

Well we've definitely been busy the last few days :)  Our sweet 3rd son, Logan Zachary May, was born on my (now our) birthday.  Tuesday, November 15, 2011.  He was our 'runt' at 8 lb 7oz and 20 inches long.  He is beautiful and looks exactly like his brothers!  What a handsome threesome they will be one day!  I will share all the news, story, name decision, etc soon but for now here are some pictures of our day.

waiting

waiting

waiting
 (and seriously I feel like some sort of robot with all this mess attached to me!)

He's here :)  

brand new baby boy

8 lbs 6.6 oz.  They rounded him up to 8 lb 7 oz

meeting his big brothers

micah drew a picture of our family :)

Connor showing off Micah's picture.  On the left side you can see Zach.  Our one and only brunette.

3rd time parents

Nana and Mimi with Logan

Proud big brother #1

Proud big brother #2

Papa and his 3 grandsons

Our attempt at our first family of 5 picture

Micah is already loving him!

My (crazy) men!

Seriously the cutest!

We had a few extra visitors on our first night in the hospital.

Logan with Morgan Pye
She's actually known the May family since their Columbus days and now goes to church with us!

Logan with Leslie

Logan with Nana and Poppy

Logan and Aunt Beka

Logan and Nehnie

We only had to stay in the hospital for one night!  WOO HOO!!!  We were discharged at 8 pm on the 16th and took our baby boy home!