Yawn....

It's just one of those days. (that's why every thing is in black and white) Sick of being stuck in side- to cold to go outside with the little one. Just feel tired and even after coffee not feeling any more energy. I'll take today as a chill day but after this I need to re-groove myself and find energy again. Oh the joy's of being sleep deprived. Wishing we could be outside....soon right? I have a new ergo carrier that is dying to be used!

Brothers

 Brothers

Some one to love, get in terrible with, some one to always back you up, some one to fight with, to learn from, to share and most of the time not share with. Brothers can have so many definitions. I wonder every day how their relationships will develop. I hope they are friends into adulthood- once we get through the having to live with each other part! :) 

                                Ansel slowly take it all in. Your brothers can't wait to start teaching you things.

Ansel meets the Hamblin family

 Ansel my little peanut. I love holding you, kissing you and smelling your little fuzzy head. I LOVE your little wrinkles on your forehead. I have started to put you down a little bit now but I still just want to hold you all the time and stare at every little part of you.

Big brother Axel telling stories to you

 Looks like you might have blue eyes like Axel? I think you have a different look than both of your brothers. Close in many ways but just a little different.

cousin Maddie

Aunt Larisa

All the cousins on my side- the Hamblins

Grandparent's and the boys

Aunt Krisha

Cereal

 Abel, Ansel and I are starting to settle in to our routine of being home.  We pulled Abel from daycare while I'm home. Once I return to work Grandma Ann is going to help us. One nice thing of working 12 hour shifts is that on average you only work 2 or 3 days a week. I've really been enjoying having Abel home. He's so busy but so much fun.

 He is such a good eater and has a new love for cereal. He could eat it all day. Abel lately has been really in to being a cowboy. He always has his boots on, his hat and wears a belt around his tummy- as a cowboy belt. It's a struggle getting them off at night and the first thing he does in the morning is put them all back on. I love all the personality that is forming.

Finally home

                                                   Ansel getting his hearing screen done.

Passed!

 Mom and Ansel ended up staying a few extra days in the hospital. I was doing well and actually got discharged as a patient on Friday but Ansel had to stay to be placed under photo-therapy because his Bilirubin level was high.  Luckily I got to stay as his 'guest'. He stayed under the photo blanket for two days and then Saturday early morning they put him under the big bank light.  Finally Saturday evening we all got to go home!

1st pair of shades

 Ansel was discharged at a weight of 6 lbs 3 oz. This was an 11% drop from his birth weight. His Bili level dropped down to 13, it was up to 15. At his Dr visit on Monday his weight was up to 6 lbs 9 oz. And his bili level was about the same.  I guess it's okay that his level hasn't changed- he's gaining wt, peeing and pooping- so that's the best thing that he can do.  His little body just needed to kick in and start to  poop! The Dr said that babies born at 37 weeks have a higher risk for not eating well and then continuing to have issues. Ansel has been a breast feeding champ and gaining weight nicely.

Photo therapy

I'm so happy to be home with my entire family. We are just starting to settle back in to our normal pattern. It's crazy having another little person in my house. I just want to hold him non-stop! That's the best thing about being his Mom- I can hold him any time- even if he's sleeping :) The big brothers are doing great and are so good with their new brother.

A Family of 5 !!!

                                 And Baby makes us 5!! I love the sound of that...a family of 5. Wow :)

welcome to the world

                Our Son!!  Ansel B Rapp. Born March 4th at 1048 am. 7 lbs 3 oz 20 1/4 inches

foot print on Dad and meeting Mom

Meeting the bog brothers

 Both big brothers did very well with their first meeting. The both wanted to hold and kiss him.

                                                      3 healthy boys- what a blessed life

All my boys

My family!!

Welcome to our family Ansel. Mom and baby are doing great. I'm feeling well and starting to get around better. Baby is doing just what he needs. We hope to be home with in a day or two. For now I sit in my hospital bed starring at my new beautiful baby boy. Enjoying the little bit of quiet that we get before we get back home.

Not long to go....

Just the three of us...

And then we were 4...

                                   Oh man... how I forget how little they are in the beginning!
The update: 
We will be a family of 5 next week! Holy crap.... My blood pressure has been acting up a little.  I was monitored over night last Tuesday and they have diagnosed my with gestational hypertension.  Meaning I have high blood pressure when I'm pregnant. Just like the other two at the end of my pregnancies.  The only big change is now the doctors have a different protocol they follow and if you have elevated blood pressure- to the point mine is 140-150's/80-90's with other symptoms-like my super bad headache, they want to deliver you at 37 weeks. It sounds a little early but it's counted as a full term pregnancy once you hit 37 weeks. So for the time being I am at home 'taking it easy'- how ever you do that with two other kids at home and while attending grad school. But for the most part trying to take it easy and no more work. I turn 37 weeks next Tuesday so the plan is to have baby A..... next Tuesday. That's like 3 days away! Wow, all of a sudden I don't know if I'm ready. I've been trying to take the weekend to get ready- finish my papers and stuff for school and sorta clean the house? I thought I had at least 2 more weeks to do all this stuff. Our last weekend just the 4 of us...