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Olivia Gail Morrow

Arrival Date: 10/19/2014

Arrival Time: 8:59am

Weight: 7lbs 4oz

Length: 18 1/2 inches

Olivia was born on Sunday morning at 8:59am.   I always wanted one of my children to be born on a Sunday, so this was very special.  To say that I was ready to have this precious little thing was an understatement.  I do not love being pregnant, especially into the third trimester.  On the Saturday before, we stayed busy.  I took Evie to a cheer clinic at the school, then Maves and I went to see MawMaw and PawPaw and then went to Hobby Lobby to get stuff for Halloween Costumes.  That was quite a bit of walking.  Then we came home and went to the school for Evie's cheer program.  After the program, we had dinner and put the girls to bed.  I started on the Halloween Costumes that evening and went to bed around 10pm.  I had been having false labor for about 2 1/2 weeks that was keeping me up all hours of the night.  My contractions would start up at about 1am and they would get about 5 minutes apart, but never intensify.  While it wasn't painful, it was certainly keeping me awake.  Well, this night I woke up at midnight with a contraction, but was able to go back to sleep.  Until 5am.  I woke up, sat on the edge of the bed and had one good strong contraction.  Mike was already up working on his sermon.  I walked into the kitchen where he was and said to him, "Honey, I'm not so sure that you will be delivering that sermon this morning..."  I walked around the house for  a few minutes and the contractions started at about 5 minutes apart.  And they were strong.  So, I called mom and told her to be safe, but to HURRY!  We packed up the truck and had it running in the driveway so we could drive off as she drove up.  And we did.  Thankfully the girls were still asleep for all of this!

We arrived at the hospital at about 6am.  I texted the midwife on the way and she responded that she would meet us there.  We parked in the parking lot and I almost left Mike behind because I was walking in so fast.  We had to fill out a (stupid) questionaire about being out of the country and stuff because of the big ebola scare at the time.  (just exactly what a woman in labor wants to do...)

Once we were in a room, they got me settled in a bed and the poking began.  I had to have antibiotics because of my strep B test.  (Boo!)  And I am not an easy stick.  It took a number of times to get the IV in my hand and that was not fun, considering I was also in full blown labor.  

I anticipated that this deliver would go fast since Mavery came pretty fast also.  So, I had talked to Mike and the midwife about being prepared to go all natural since there might not be time for an epidural.  This was also the reason I wanted to use a midwife and I was very pleased with that decision.  It was by far the most painful birth of the three, but it was the best experience because of my midwife.  She was fantastic!  

Once the nurses got all of the antibiotics through the IV, they were instructed to detach me from it so I could walk around and do what I needed to do while in labor.  Mike was such a trooper.  He walked me around, let me lean on him, asked me if I needed anything and kept the outside world up to date on what was going on.  (until I told him to turn off the ringer on his phone because it was driving me crazy :)

So, I labored for about another hour.  It was intense.  I wanted to give in and have an epidural.  Honestly, I did.  But Mike and the midwife knew that I also really wanted to do it natural so they were very supportive of sticking it out.  Once I was complete, she decided to break my water so that things would move along.  It was weird because once the water broke, the contractions were less intense and it was hard to tell when to push.  But, I managed to figure it out and at 8:59, baby was born and Mike Morrow almost collapsed on my chest and muttered out, "Melissa, its a girl!"  

I cried and laughed out loud!  Three girls!!!

This was also the only birth were I had them leave the baby attached to the cord for a few minutes and let me hold her before she was all cleaned up.  I have never been in so much pain, but been so happy at the same time in all my life.  

Mike got to cut the cord and then they took her to weight her and clean her up.  The next few hours were wonderful and painful.  I had to be stitched up and put on pitocin for the bleeding.  That was not fun, but I was able to have some pain meds to take the edge off.  

Olivia Gale was a very sweet surprise to her parents and her older sisters.  I was almost convinced that we were having a boy.  But I was beyond thrilled when Miss Olivia made her way into our lives. 

    

 Two very proud big sisters!

 My first bow!

 Sweet oldest sister!

 And now the "middle child"

 We love you baby Olivia!

 Three beautiful girls!

We are very blessed!

Baby Shower

The church hosted us a very lovely baby shower for #3 this past week.  It was great fun, food and fellowship and we were overwhelmed by the generosity of our fellow members.  Our family is blessed for sure!

Delicious food!

Very sweet decorations with baby animals!

Delicious Carrot Cake!

The dads helping the littles with their coloring sheets.

Diaper buggy!!

So stinkin' cute!

When I asked the ladies to gather around for a picture, this was what I got.  

We have some camera-shy ladies at FBC...

Swings, Sand Boxes and School Pictures

Swings!!

Sandbox! 

(We think that Mavery is wanting to go to the beach because she loves to climb all the way IN the sandbox...)

School Picture Proofs

(Pre-K 3)

September 2014

We have had some fun in during the month of September.  Still waiting on the arrival of #3, but here's what we have been doing to pass the time...

Riesel Homecoming!  

Yes, both girls got a little mum.  They thought it was pretty cool.

We retired our Summer 2014 Bucket List.  

We missed a few check-list items.  Overall, it was a great summer!

The Wednesday night girls...

Celebrating Abigail's 5th Birthday at the skating place.

(Teaching a 5 year-old to skate, wearing a princess dress, 8 months pregnant = exhausting!)

Evie teaching Trent some math skills

Mavery helping MawMaw with the Fishy Puzzle... her new favorite.

Well, I'll say that we are ready for October and for Baby #3 to be here.  (but that's just the pregnant lady talking...)

Sweet Mavery

I love Mavery's face in these two pictures.  Probably it's because she's standing in her sand table, where I told her not to stand (many times).  She is a mess!  

I know that Mavery has no idea how life is about to change.  With #3 on the way, she will soon be "The Middle Child".  Other than watching the Brady Bunch, I don't know much about "middle child syndrome".  I do believe though that she has a strong enough personality to overcome any overshadowing by her older sister and she will be a wonderful big sister to her new sibling.  

Since Evie started school, Mike and I have been trying to have Friday lunch with Mavery.  It has been a treat to have some Mommy/Daddy one-on-one time with our little Maves.  She is a talker and a charmer and we love her to pieces.  It will be interesting to see how she adjusts to the baby, but I anticipate she will be a super little helper.  (and be a little jealous at times...)

Name Tags, Pepper Rally and Drop-off

Miss Evie continues to amaze us and keep us laughing.  She has really enjoyed her first three weeks of Kindergarten.  On the first week of school they had a Pep Rally for the football team.  At her school, they take all the elementary kids over to participate in the pep rally and Evie was beside herself with excitement on Friday morning!  She kept telling us at breakfast that she wanted to wear her cheer leader costume for "worship day" at school.  We were slightly puzzled, but then realized that she was referring to "Spirit Day" at school where you sport school colors.  So we explained the difference and helped her understand to call it spirit day.

Then she continued to talk and talk and talk about the "Pepper Rally" that they would be going to that afternoon.  After she finished breakfast, she proceeded to ask if she had enough time to make herself a name tag to wear to school so that EVERYONE would know her name at the pepper rally.  It just made me chuckle inside because this extroverted little girl comes from an introverted Mama who hates name tags and typically just wants to blend into a crowd.  Oh, our little Evie-girl.  We love your spirit and zeal for life!!!

The two princesses

Getting ready for a tea party with Grandma Susie

Oh, please come to my tea party!

It will be so much fun!

Mavery enjoying the pepper rally

I love this sweet face!

These girls love their Pops!

The brick at McLane Stadium that some of my college roommates put together.

So special! Fun Memories!

Little Miss Kindergarten

It's official!  We have a kindergartener in our house now.  Evie started "Elementary School" on Monday.  Mavery keeps telling everyone, "Evie goes the 'Elamamentary School' now".
It was a bittersweet moment for both Mommy and Daddy.
Of course the entire family walked her to her classroom on the first day.  I made Evie hold my hand from the car to the school.  It's possible that I squeezed her hand a little too tightly until we arrived at her classroom.  It was hard for this Mommy to let go, but she was ready, very ready to start school!

We celebrated the end of summer at a "tea party" with some friends Sunday afternoon.

 All ready to go!

Mavery had to take her lunch box and thermos, too!

 Time to load up!

 In her seat at the green table.

 So happy to have Mrs. Hansen as her teacher!!

 Time for Mom and Dad to exit.  

This kindergartener has some serious work to do!

 Enjoying her after-school snack at home.

Last Day of Preschool

Here we were back in August 2013 on the first day of pre-K.

And here we were on the last day of preschool in August 2014.

Wow! All three of us are so much bigger now!

 And a fun family selfie.

 Ready to splash her way into kindergarten.

The Third Trimester

Raise your hand if you're ready to have a baby!!!

(In case you can't tell, both my hands are high up in the air!)  The above photo is the only picture I have where my baby belly can be almost seen.  I don't like my picture taken, especially when growing another human inside.
Pregnancy has never been my favorite stage of the game, even this third time around.  I just don't like being pregnant.  Here at 28 weeks, I'm big and my skin itches...all over.  I have crazy heart burn and I'm just down right tired from not sleeping well.  Ugh.  But it truly is all worth it in the end.  There are many things to be thankful for:
*A healthy pregnancy so far.
*A mild summer! (we haven't even reached 100 degrees.  Woa, is this Texas??!!)
*Supportive friends and family.

Here's some pics of things we've been doing to wind up the summer...

One last summer visit to the children's museum

Evie showing off the picture she made.

Visiting the church kids and summer camp

Road trip with Daddy!

and sacked out for the trip back home.

Learning to make a mess, oops, I mean wash the dishes.

 Smile! 

Mommy and Daddy 

Decorating the baby belly with stickers during church.

(#3, you have some fun big sisters awaiting your arrival!)

 Sacked out on Daddy.  

(is there any better napping place???)

Morning Breakfast together.

Art Class at the Casa

 Fun at the Orange and Blue park across the street.

(enjoying the "cool" August weather)

 Lunch picnic at the park.

New lunch boxes for the new school year

Evie is all ready and signed up for Kindergarten!!