How time flies!!!

Well, Lola is going on 3 weeks now and I can't believe where the time has gone! We have had so much going on it's hard to put it all down into words! First, let me start by saying I'm not sure how I got so lucky to have the most wonderful hands on husband in the world, but I did and I am soooo grateful! I'm not sure how I would be doing without his help! :-)

So let see, where do I begin?? Lola is a great nurser, she feeds every 3 hours during the day and goes 4-5 hours at night! The only bad thing is she has her fussy period in the evening so going to bed before 11, rarely happens. We'll take it though since it only happens in the evening and for the most part she is happy and sleeping during the day! :-) Jackson calls her his little angel and she really is! On that note, Jackson is doing great. He finished up pre-school right before Lola was born and has been feeling and acting so much better! It is amazing to me what effects the surgery has had on him. It's like he has grown up so much in these last few months, we are so thankful to see him doing so much better!!! He goes for a follow up after the surgery in July and we'll see where his blood count is now and how the spleen that was left and his liver are functioning. To us all signs point in the right direction. He has been such a big help with his sister, he really LOVES her! He goes to get diapers for her, and loves to hold her! So cute!!! Max is having a harder time with all of this! Remember he is only 19 months, still a baby himself and he doesn't understand why mommy has this baby attached to her for most of the day! The great thing is we have found a wonderful babysitter who comes in the mornings 3 days a week to help me out with the boys! She has been a lifesavor to me! This way the boys are able to do what they are use to doing, like go outside or swimming without being stuck inside with mom and a newborn! :-) All in all we are still ajusting to our newest addition, but what a wonderful addition she is!! :-)

The best things in life are worth the wait!

Lola Grace Shea was born,May 26th at 9:08 p.m. She weighed 7 lbs 130z and is 21 inches long. Both labor and delievery went fast,once they broke my water at 6:15 p.m. We have been home now for 2 days and we are all trying to adjust, as you can imagine with 2 other little ones! Jackson is just in LOVE with his sister and is a big help with everything. Max wasn't too sure in the hospital,he wouldn't even come see me until we got home. Once we were in our home, he came right up to her and I and he gives her love, and a pinch here and there too!!! :-) Zach and I are both running on a few hours of sleep here and there,but all in all Lola is doing well and so are we. She is breastfeeding well and loves to be held by daddy or I! She's a chest baby!! :-)

I have to thank my mom who was here, and unfortunately had to leave before Lola made her arrival. She was here over the holiday weekend and helped with the boys and cleaned around the house as I was just feeling miserable! Thanks Mom and the boys and I miss you already. Jackson wants to know when he's going to MI to see you!??? I also have to Thank Mom O for everything she does and continues to do for all of us, it is so appreciated!!! Here a few pictures for now and I'll update again soon! :-)

Still No Lola......

So we are now officially past our due date, and really getting anxious! Both Zach and I are having a tough time sleeping at night just waiting for something, ANYTHING to happen! I still can't imagine how this little girl hasn't arrived yet. I have been dialated to a 4 and 80-90% eefaced for over a week now, crazy?? I feel fine other than I'm just really ready to meet this little girl and get on with life and our family! Our next post will be once little miss arrives, which will be sometime this week! My Doctor will induce if nothing happens in the few days! :-) Stay tuned!

3 weeks to go.....(Maybe!)

So I had my 37 week check up and baby Lola is head down, I'm dilated to 2.5 and she weighs about 5 lbs so far. I have been having lots of contractions and feel it could really be anytime time now. With each of the boys I went early, so my prediction is the 1st week in May! We'll see!!! :-) So here is the latest picture of me, as you can see my belly goes straight out, like for miles!!!!! :-) Stay tuned for updates, we are so excited to meet this little girl!! :-) Jackson keeps saying, "Mom, I can't wait to see Lola, she's gonna be so cute!" Makes me laugh, coming from this little munckin voice! :-)

Lola Grace's Nursery

So I thought I would post some pictures of Lola's room. We still have a few things to hang on the walls and curtains to hang but I have had so many people asking, I thought I would post what we have so far! I really think it turned out just the way I wanted it! :-)

Surgery Success!!

Tuesday, March 24th Jackson had part of his spleen and gallbladder removed and all in all it has been a success. He was so strong and brave, I think it was harder on Zach and I to watch him get wheeled off into the operating room. Of course it helped that they had Jackson pretty doped up on drugs! I have to say, he was pretty funny and cute to watch! :-)

So at 9:00 a.m. they made their 1st incision, and the spleen was removed by 10:00 when they called down to us in the waiting room. At 10:00 they started on the gallbladder and that is a little tricker to remove, since there are so many valves that attach to other organs. By 11:00 they had called and said he was still doing great, but that it would be a little while longer....errrrr!! By 11:30, the surgeon called down to us and said everything was done and that Jackson was being moved to recovery!! I think those 2 1/2 hours were the longest 2 1/2 hours of Zach and my life!!!

Once we got to recovery, Jackson was already coming too and in allot of pain, it was hard to hold back the tears. We were in recovery for about an hour before they moved us to his room, where they continued him on heavy drugs and he slept on and off the rest of the day. We had a private room so that night both Zach and I were able to stay the night with him. On Wednesday, Zach stayed the day with him as I drove home to shower and spend some time with Max at Grandma's. Zach said Jackson was pretty sore and spent most of the day in bed. That night I headed back to UVA and Zach came home to get some sleep. I was able to get him to stand up and go to the bathroom on his own most of the night!! On Thursday, Jackson seemed to be doing so much better. He started to act silly and smile alot more and even walked down to the play area where he made some new friends. This was such a wonderful sight for both Zach and I to see and even cousin Kelly came for a visit and got to witness Jack at his silliest!! :-) That night the doctors said Jackson was doing great and we could go home in the morning, yippee!!!! Zach and I decided this was a good night for me to head home and get some much needed sleep in my own bed, Halejuhah !!! So Friday we headed home and I have to say Jackson is just doing fantastic! Kids certainly do bounce back pretty quick! He barely takes any pain medication and each day I see more and more energy coming back, it's so nice to see. We head back next week for a post surgery follow-up and hopefully from here on out, a once a year visit to UVA!!!

I want to thank everyone for all their support and prayers during this difficult time in our lives. You have no idea how much it meant to us, thank you, thank you!!!! I need to also send a big special Thank you to Mom O, for taking such good care of Max while all this was going on. It made life so much easier for me, to know that I didn't need to worry about Max because he was in good hands with someone who loves him very much, thanks Mom! :-)

So I thought I would share a few pictures of before surgery and after. :-)

Moving Right Along......

What a week we have had this week! First of all, it started out with Jackson crashing again and needing another blood transfusion on Monday. This is his 1st one this year, but 7th since he turned 3. Needless to say, we were really looking forward to what the doctors had to say when we meet with them on Thursday. Basically, we talked and decided to go ahead and set up surgery for this coming Tuesday, the 24th. Jackson has gallstones as well, so it seems he is just like his mama and will have both his spleen and gallbladder removed. Well, I should say 90% of his spleen will be removed. They are doing a partial splenectomy, leaving a little of the spleen to help him with his immune system in the future. With this proceedure though, he has to be cut open rather that laproscopic! This means a longer stay in the hospital, but better for him in the long run. We are nervous, yet anxious about the surgery. I know after all is said and done he's going to feel so much better, it's just hard watching your little guy go through this! Thank god for Mom O, Aunt Jeanette and Leah who have all offered to help with Max while we are at UVA. Max is such a trooper as well, he's a super easy kid. Give him his blanket, some food, a little Mickey Mouse and a place to nap and he's good! Of coarse it's going to be hard on this mama leaving her baby but I'll get through it, I have too! :-) I'll be sure to keep you all posted on how Jackson is doing next week! :-)