George’s 30th Birthday

Well George’s 30th birthday is April 27th, 2012.  Bryan Dever always told george we were going to do something big and surprise him on his birthday.  However with that said, I’m not usually good at planning surprises and didn’t think I could pull anything off. But I have to say I’m VERY proud of myself.  I really didn’t think I could lie so good LOL.  So back in January I started planning a trip to Seattle for the Seattle Supercross.  I got a hold of many of George’s good friends and confirmed which ones wanted to and could go and I bought tickets.  Received all 14 of them in the mail and hid them, FOR MONTHS.  At this point I hadn’t had to do any lying because he wasn’t expecting anything.  Before I got the tickets, I had to contact George’s boss and get him off work.  This turned out to be a little of a challenge because I wanted to get him off work on Friday, April 20th, and it just so happened their quarterly inventory day was that day. So it looked like we weren’t going to be heading over to Seattle until Saturday the 21st, which was the day of the race. But I was able to get him the Monday after off so even though it was a rush to get over there… we got a day to wander around Seattle and be tourists before heading back! 
So MONTHS, occurred and nothing was said about any birthday surprise.  Thanks goodness everyone including me was able to keep the secret. On Friday April 20th, George woke up and went to work as usual.  Inventory is always a long night at his work, so he didn’t get home until 930pm.  Once he got home, I had a cake made for his birthday.  When he walked in,  he saw the cake and wondered why I had made it a week in advance, since his birthday wasn’t actually until the next Friday the 27th.  I had Kiersten give him his birthday card, which exposed that we were going to the Supercross. This is where the lying began!! CRINGE.  I had to convince him that we were going to do something every day until his birthday to celebrate his birthday WEEK.  (ya right, I don’t celebrate birthday WEEKS and never will, your birthday is ONE day LOL) This was just to get him to open his card because he didn’t think he should be opening his card a week before his birthday.  Once he opened his card he saw the words PACK YOUR BAGS WE ARE GOING TO SEATTLE SUPERCROSS.  This was a shock and he wanted to know who was going.  I informed him that it was just him and I.  That we were taking the kids over and my Cousin Jamie was going to be watching the girls (This little lie about my cousin Jamie came back to haunt me the whole trip over). 
So that night we went to bed and woke up BRIGHT and EARLY and packed up the girls (I already had the vehicle packed the day before) and we headed to Seattle.  The whole way over I was receiving texts from his brother Cody and mom.  Which I had to make a few extra“bathroom stops” to send them messages back so he didn’t think anything of it.  Also on the way over and the night before laying in bed, he kept quizzing me about my cousin Jamie.  He wasn’t comfortable leaving the girls with someone he had never met, understandably so.  He kept quizzing me about this and why I hadn’t tried to get my parents or his parents to come up and watch the girls. I told him that my parents weren’t coming up because my dad had plans to shoot a bow shoot (which was true) and my mom had to work (not true).  And that his parents couldn’t come up because it was his moms weekend to work as well and she couldn’t get out of it (another lie).  So after a stressful trip of one lie after another on the way over we finally arrived in Seattle.  My original plan was to tell George we were meeting Jamie at a restaurant and she was going to take the girls from there, when really all of his friends were going to be at the restaurant.  However on the way over I was quizzed so much about my cousin watching the kids that when we got closer I didn’t even want to mention her name again, because I didn’t want him to ask MORE questions.  So I texted everyone… change of plans, everyone needs to be in the hotel lobby when we show up, I couldn’t lie anymore.  When we got about 15 min out I sent everyone a message and they all headed to our hotel.  It was a good thing that the hotel entrance was a bit confusing, because normally we probably would have pulled up to the lobby entrance and he would have got out to check us in and I wouldn’t have been there for the surprise!  But it worked out perfect, the hotel entrance was a bit confusing and so he decided to just go park in their parking garage.  And so we all headed up to the lobby together to check in.  When we arrived many of our friends were in the lobby to surprise him. I didn’t get to see his face because I was behind him, but He was in shock and speechless.  Not long after the first reveal, another friends showed up and it was another surprise all over again.  AWW no more lying and the secrets were all out, thank goodness.
From there, Kate watched the kids and the rest of us went to the bar and then down to the track.  We were also very lucky, my family is friends with Ryan Villopotos Grandpa and uncle, and His uncle David got us free Pit passes which was so awesome, I couldn’t be more thankful to David for being able to do this for us!  It was a great time out with friends and family and I believe a birthday George won’t forget!

Summer Fun 2012–its finally starting!!

So even though its not summer yet, it finally has been nice out.  It got up to the 70’s yesterday and we loved every minute of it.  I love that I’ve been able to open up all the doors in our house and just enjoy the fresh air.  Every morning Kiersten wakes up and opens the back slider so we can hear the birds in our back yard.    Today Kiersten got to enjoy her first popsicle of the season…. Can’t wait for more.  Looking forward to a summer full of fun in 2012.

While Kiersten enjoyed the outdoors….Katelyn enjoyed her swing…

Sisters

So its been a little over a month and Sisters are forever!! Kiersten already has a bond that will never be broken for Katelyn.  She LOVES having a sister and she is so helpful with everything!  Here are some pictures.

Welcome Baby Katelyn Laine Drake

As with Kiersten, my labor lasted for days before actually getting far enough to go into the hospital.  It was about 3 days that I had contractions, and every time it was getting worse and I thought this was going to be the time I head into the hospital… my contractions would stop.  February 11th, wasn’t really any different.  My day started out with contractions… they came for a few hours would get stronger, 5-8 min apart and just when I was about ready to go in they would stop.  My family, in laws and parents, kept telling me I should go in and get checked at the hospital…however if you know me I’m a little stubborn and didn’t want to go in to the hospital.  Finally at 2 in the afternoon my husband convinced me that we should go in.  I guess he was right cause my contractions were bringing me to my knees, however they were still only about 8 min apart.  I dreaded every 8 min!!! It was a great thing that he convinced me because we got in the car and about half way to Coeur d’Alene they hit, stronger and more than ever.  They were every 3 minutes by the time we got off the freeway and we still had to drop Kiersten off at Bryan and Erin’s house.  (Thank you so much Bryan and Erin, you guys are amazing friends and we couldn’t have done it without you guys).  Got to the hospital and up to the labor and delivery unit and I was sadly disappointed that I was only dilated to a 3.  These pains were MUCH worse than I ever felt with Kiersten and with Kiersten I was a 4 when I first arrived at the hospital and my contractions hadn’t even hit their high with her yet.  Anyhow even through the disappointment, the nurse knew I wasn’t going home.  My contractions still remained every 2-3 min and I was breathing through them but the nausea was kicking in.  Once I started getting sick the nurse said, “It’s time for you to get your epidural, your breathing to hard and that’s what was causing the nausea.”  So anesthesia came and got my epidural in.  Directly after my epidural the nurse checked me again and I was at a 7.  No wonder I was hurting and hyperventilating.   Once the epidural was on board, life was good again!  From this point it was just a matter of waiting.  By this time our families had gotten the news and were headed up to see us.  My parents were predicted to be here at 8pm and Den and Kate were to be here around 945-10pm.  I have to say, I saw Stephanie Harrison NP through out my whole pregnancy and really wanted her to deliver Katelyn.  However it was the weekend, and although Stephanie had said I could have the nurses call her anytime regardless if she was on-call and she would try to come in.  I knew I shouldn’t have them do that.  She had just worked the weekend before, I knew this because I worked also. So I felt we shouldn’t call her in on her weekend off.  And I was okay with that because Dr. Cutting was on-call and he had delivered Kiersten, So I knew what to expect with him.  So while we were waiting the nurse had kept Dr. Cutting in the loop and then… at 730pm he decided to tell us that he was going to a bowling tournament and he was turning his call over to Dr. Helal until the tournament was over.  REALLY… I was so disappointed!  Then the nurse came in and asked if I wanted to speed up the process and start pitocin.  I said, ‘NO, I’m holding this baby in until Dr. Cutting is back on.”  She agreed we could hold off and not do the pit.  And at 8:50 she checked me again… I was complete, and Dr Cutting hadn’t called to tell us he was back on yet!!   The nurse went out and called Dr. Helal but explained to him that I really wanted Cutting, so he said he would call him and see how much longer he was going to be. In the mean time… I was nauseated and throwing up again.  After heaving, the nurse checked me again, and informed me she wasn’t waiting for Dr. Cutting, that she was sorry but Dr Helal needed to get here because with every heave….the baby was getting lower and in her words, “I have never delivered a baby on my own, and don’t plan to tonight!”  Just when she went out to the desk… Dr. Cutting called and said he was on his way!!  AWWW THANKYOU.  He got there at 9:25pm and was dressed and ready for me to push a few minutes later.  I pushed three time and Katelyn Laine Drake was born at 9:37pm.  Dr. Cutting did and amazing job and our baby had no complications.  My parents had made it to the delivery… Grandma Kate and Grandpa Den… they were 10 minutes to late!  But they were there for all the great things like first bath and shots and such.  It was like a paparazzi photo session during the first couple hours of Katelyn’s life.

The Paparazzi:

 

 

Since Katelyn was born at 937pm, we decided it would be best to leave Kiersten at Bryan and Erin’s for the night and let her meet her sister in the morning.  She was really excited to meet her however was  bit nervous.  She absolutely did NOT want Katelyn to cry.  If anyone was doing anything to Katelyn she would quiz them and tell them that they needed to stop because she was going to cry.  She wouldn’t hold her for a very long time but she did love to look at her.  Here is The Sister Meeting:

Katelyn was born on Saturday February 11th at 937pm and at 730pm Sunday we got to go home.  Less than 24 hours in the hospital and our lives were changed forever!! Welcome home baby Katelyn!!!

Kiersten’s 4th Birthday

I was going to plan a big birthday party for Kiersten, however being pregnant and almost do I decided against it.  We had friends over and did a small party and she got her dora cake and that was all she cared about.  Happy Birthday Baby Girl!  Love you!

George made talapia while I finished the cake…

Our First Snow Day….

This winter has been a bit strange.  We have had very little accumulation of snow so today we got an accumulation we could actually play in!  Kiersten was loving it and she is only 4 but she gets to now go out and play in our little neighborhood with me staring out the window!  She feels so independent.  But when I tell her its time to come in or put her hat back on… she isn’t happy with me. You can see in these photos some of those moments!! 

36 week appt!

Appointment went well.  My doctor was running behind so I saw a different one.  Didn't get to see the little munchkin...was hoping cause Steph said she would get the US machine out but Penney didn't and I didn't ask!  Just listened to heart rate. Heart rate was 155, strong. Appears to be head down now... heart was heard on right side below my belly button so that is a good sign cause it was above my belly button before!  Didn't have them check me... no need not having any contraction pain.  He said if I was okay with it they would wait until 38 weeks to check me again unless i was having problems! So that is 2 weeks from now!  Blood pressure was good, didn't gain any weight this week! so up 6 pounds total! My group B strep swab came back negative, so that is a good, won't have to have antibiotics before we deliver this little one!  Next appointment is Jan 24th, Kiersten's Birthday!!

Decorating for Christmas

Getting our Tree - 2011

I always grew up with a real Christmas tree.  Unfortunately but wisely we made the decision the first year Kiersten was born to go to a fake tree,  It just was simpler with a small child.  However this year I really longed for a real tree again.  I wanted the smell of it in the house and I wanted the adventure for Kiersten to be able to get a real one!  We planned on trucking out in the actual woods and getting one however timing wasn’t good this year.  We were in HSB for thanksgiving, I worked the following weekend and then we realized Den and Kate were coming up this weekend to celebrate Christmas.  That left us a only a couple choices, put up the fake tree again, or… have Den and Kate go with us to get a tree at a local tree farm.  We didn’t want to waist the WHOLE day getting a tree when we didn’t have much time with Den and Kate to begin with.  So we opted to go to Carvers farms and cut down our tree.  It was a good family fun adventure that Kiersten loved.  We got there and got to have a hay ride down to the tree farm area and then Kiersten got to pick the tree (with Grandpa Den and Dad doing a little convincing).  I thought most of the trees looked the same, all perfect, just a little different sizes, however Kiersten didn’t think so.   So she got to pick her tree and go for a hay ride and she LOVED it.

Disney on Ice–Toy Story 3

This year I planned on taking Kiersten to Disney on Ice.  I was just as excited to take her as she was to go, I think.   These days I’m a little (just a little) emotional about everything we do over the holidays is the last time Kiersten gets to be an only child!  I’m super excited for her to have a sister and things will be that much more joyous when the new one arrives, however, I want her to enjoy the time she has without a sibling!  Sooo…. I was excited to take her for the last time by herself, and to make the trip even sweeter, I won the tickets online and didn’t have to pay for our seats!  She had the best time, didn’t take her eyes off the show the whole time.  She also didn’t want to leave when it was over!  She was sure it was going to start back up again!  Here are some great photos from the event!