Christmas morning -----Minty !!

Someone is a little excited. Mommy has looked everywhere for Minty from My Little Pony, and Santa found one !!

Sledding !!

Our child loves to go fast !! She has no fear and told me today that the long sled is too slow, the disk is faster !! Daddy caught her at the end, right before the rock pile !

Maddison's 4th Birthday

Well it feels like it has been forever since I updated this blog !! So much is going on and life is really busy now that we have 2 babes. Maddison turning 4 was so much fun and we have decided to make the week after her Birthday our family vacation week !! Next year we are thinking of going to New York to see the Thanksgiving day parade on 34th St, in person. Or maybe we could head for Florid a again, it was so warm !!

This year we pack the girls up and headed for Disneyworld !! What a great trip. Maddison was so excited to see the Princess Castle, where Mickey lived, and all the characters. It was so great to see it through her eyes. Gabriella was the best little traveler at 9 weeks old !! She just slept a lot, and fussed a little. I am going to post way to many pictures of our trip.

The week before we left for Florida we had 15 children at Maddison's Birthday Party at Kangaroo Jac's. It is a giant building full of inflatables. They all had such a good time and Maddie finally got her Daisy Duck cake, decorated by her Daddy. He did a great job on her cake.

Maddie also received lots of great Birthday presents from Family and friends in the mail, so thanks again to all those that remembered her on her special day.

Gabriella talks to Daddy !!!

Pictures of the Girls

Sweet Sisters

Gabriella 7 weeks 11 Pounds !!

Picture comparison

This is Jason and Maddison almost 4 years ago. She was days old.

This is Jason and baby Gabriella also days old. I think are girls look a little bit alike, what do you think ??
Also did you happen to notice that my husband just keeps getting more handsome ?? How fair is that?

Current pictures of our crazy life !!

Maddison being silly.

Ballet class !!

Last time at the beach before the cold weather !!

Daddy's home from work, she got the first kiss that day.

Bath time with sister, such a big girl and loves her baby so much.

A glimpse at my day to day life. She is a social girl, even in the bathroom.

Us at the park.

Poor dog, what would we do without her. Maddison and Tuesday play dress up at least twice a day. Our sweet dog is so patient.

Our love affair with baby Gabriella .........

Gabriella Grace, just arrived!!!

What a night, our new daughter came at 0228 in the morning. She was 8lbs 5 oz, 19.5 inches, WTF you say? I hear you, I made the nurse re-weigh her twice, being sure she couldn't be over 7 lbs.

We made the decision to go in to VCU at 1800 and get things "started" after another day and night of variable degrees of contractions. Dilated to 4cm, random contractions, we requested to be ROM'd (breaking the water), nothing exciting happened, so let's start some "pit" (oxytocin, for augmentation of labor). A few hours later the contractions are booming every 2 minutes and really starting to hurt. Of course labor progressed and after about 7 hrs of increasing intensity, a lot of loud noises, tears and writhing in pain, my wife did it!. She was dilated to 9cm almost completely effaced, felt like she had to push and really couldn't stand the pain anymore. So, she pushed a little, the baby crowned, I coached her to focused and turn the pain into good pushes, and after about 6 0r 7 real good pushes that beautiful baby came out. Oh and did I mention the attending, had to insert her hand and physically push the cervix up over her head so she could come out. Yeah, ouch!

What an amazing woman, to fight through what could only be described from a bystander as the most obviously, excrutiatingly painful endeavour few women volunteer for now-a-days. I was so proud of her, she really did a great job with no epidural, no complications, and just true grit to pull through it. You are so amazing, baby, I love you. Thank you for another amazingly, beautiful baby girl!

Happy 13 Years together Big Daddy !!!

13 years ago I married this amazing man !!! I remember thinking then, how could I possibly love him more than I do today? How can I live, breathe, even exist without him in my life ? Amazingly I feel all those same feelings today, and they have grown stronger over the years. He is the most amazing husband, friend and father. How did I luck out ??

I still look into his eyes and just melt, the sound of his voice makes me melt and when he makes me laugh out loud, I still get the chills when we laugh together !!! He still makes me feel like I am the only one in the room.

Thanks for this amazing journey together Jason !! You are the other half of me, and I am still so amazed at the love we share !!

37 Weeks, 20 Days (or less) to go !!!

So, an Anesthesiologist IS a Doctor !

For 12-14 hours a day this is what Jason does. He puts the patient at ease, then puts them to sleep so they feel no pain, don't move and are unaware during their surgery. He continually monitors their blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, temperature, cardiac rhythm, anesthetic gas levels and neuromuscular function (just to name a few).

To me his role is the most important role in the entire operating room, he is solely in charge of keeping the patient safe, comfortable and alive. The surgeons role is important yes, but they are not responsible for the patients breathing and heart functions, the anesthesiologist is. Additionally, there must be constant communication with the surgeon regarding any life-threatening issues, and if necessary the anesthesiologist can stop or cancel the procedure if deemed unsafe for the patient.

It has taken us YEARS to get to this point and to see how much my husband is "loving" what he is doing is so rewarding. He is so calm and cool when it comes to using all the skills and knowledge he has acquired. I am so so so PROUD of him !!!

This next month he will be on the Labor and Labor floor learning all about epidurals and spinal anesthesia. He will bring the Mommy's relief from pain, so I am sure he will love that.

I love you so much Jason !! I knew since the day I first met you what an amazing person you are and that you are so smart and so capable. Your confidence amazes me. Thank you for choosing me to be your best friend, wife and the mother of your children, (I am sure I got the better end of that deal !!)