It has been too long since we posted but I am afraid that you will have to wait a bit longer. Summer Vacation starts in 2 weeks and I plan on updating then. Just hang in there, know that we are well just busy, busy, busy.
Table set Christmas Eve, ready for the big meal
Christmas Morning, before the kids descend
Trying to keep the kids amused while waiting for Great Grandad
Finally present time!
Stockings first
I think she was REALLY excited about something
It must have been the apple
A new housecoat
Apple break
Doctor coat from her sisters
Ice-cream set from her sisters
Playmobil House from Grannie
AJ's playmobil house
Shared gift (Dora of course)
"Rescue pack, comin to the rescue"
New dresses from Great Grandma and Grandad
Beautiful picture, Face of an angel?
Great Grannie meeting her ninth great grandchild
3 Cuties
AJ's first corn on the cob experience
Story time
Lots of cuddling
More cuddling
Second Christmas. The kids got nano bugs for Christmas
They are so cool
Little Miss Christmas
Okay so I know this is very late in coming but life with 3 kids is crazy and it has taken me awhile to be able to process it all. In the run up to Christmas David's Dad came over from AZ to be with us. He was with us about a week before we loaded up headed to my Mum's place for Christmas and New Year. It was quite a stressful journey, with two excited, young kids and a 3 week old! The weather made the journey all the more difficult; the snow was unbelievable. The other problem was that I started to feel unwell on the road down and for most of the journey I was fevered. After feel unwell the next day, not being able to swallow saliva and noticing some nasty looking stuff at the back of my throat, I thought it best to see a doctor. So, on Christmas Eve, I saw a GP and was given antibiotics for tonsillitis. Thankfully they worked quickly and I was on the road to recovery, so I could enjoy all the Christmas fair!
David's brother Daniel joined us on Christmas eve. The girls were so excited, mostly Abby, with AJ feeding off of her sister's excitement. They went to bed without much trouble and they didn't wake up too early on Christmas day. Some of us, however, didn't get much sleep at all after playing Santa and preparing food for Christmas dinner. After having some breakfast and waiting for Great Grandad to be picked up, we headed into the living room. Abby went straight for the nearest present, which was not hers. As usual we started with stockings. Both girls were most excited about the apple and orange at the bottom. AJ couldn't wait and started eating her apple immediately. She got very upset if she couldn't find it. While they looked at their stuff the adults took turns doing their stockings. Then the real fun began as the girls started opening gifts. Abby was just excited to unwrap and wanted to go from one gift to the next. AJ struggled to keep up. They really loved all their gifts. Abby's big gift was a balance bike and AJ got a Diego Mega Blocks set. Aleah is going to get a special Teddy bear, when we find “the one”. I got a wormery compost unit and David a Kindle.
Then it was up to mum and me to cook Christmas dinner. I had always been really excited at the prospect of doing this but as the time drew near I became more nervous. If it hadn't been for my mum being there to help I don't think I could have done it. Even if I say so myself, it all turned out delicious and only 45 mins later than we had planned!
As much as we all enjoyed our Christmas, with the joy that young children bring, it must be said that it was the hardest Christmas that I/we have ever experienced. The reason being, of course, that my dad was not with us having died in October. What made it particularly difficult was the joy that my dad had at Christmas; he just loved it. Not just the gifts but the time spent together, the foods and treats, “candle light suppers” (family joke), movies, the Queen's Speech and extra-special meals around the table. He loved all of it, with one exception; putting lights on the Christmas tree! :) My dad loved all “holidays” and liked to make each one special – Rolling eggs down Arthurs Seat, making costumes, carving pumpkins. He became like a kid again and made the magic of each holiday shine for me. My dad always cooked the Christmas and boxing day dinners. The one thing I never really appreciated until I had to do it was the timing and preparations that it involves. I am so thankful that several years ago my dad wrote detailed instructions on making Christmas dinner for the guys (in the HOPE that they would carry on the tradition of the man cooking these meals). There was just a constant feeling of something missing, of not being complete. I know my mum felt the same. I could see it in her eyes. It pains me still to think of that. I always thought it corny when they would say things in movies like “you made their eyes come alive again” or “you brought the sparkle/laughter back to their eyes” but now I only hope and pray that the same will be true for my mum someday. My brother and his family spent Christmas in the States with his in-laws. We had a hard time without them there, but we got through it.
After an exhausting day we were all glad to get to bed that night. Daniel travelled home on Christmas day and David's dad left to return home on the 27th.
New Year was a quiet affair. Mum went out to the Church hogmany party but we stayed at her house to put the kids to bed. She came home before the bells and we had crackers, cheese, etc.. We saw in the new year together and watched the fireworks at Stirling Castle from the upstairs hall window. JA and family arrived home a couple of days later and we had a second Christmas with them. Which meant another late night and more excitement as the kids awoke to another morning of presents. We also had a repeat Christmas dinner, although it was just leftover turkey this time. The kids as always loved being together and were even more excited to have their Grannie with them. They all love their Grannie so much. We look forward to all being together again soon and I hope that Christmases get easier and the sparkle comes back to them.
I will put the pictures and videos in a separate post as this one is long enough!
Okay so I know she is already 5 weeks old today but I am a bit behind with the blogging.
So I was due 10th December but one snowy night............
Best go back to the beginning. From about 37 weeks I started contracting on and off and then I started to have some show since I had a midwife appointment in a week or so I didn't bother speaking to any midwife. David had a parents night on the Thursday so Kirsten came through to spend the day with me and she and the boys stayed the night. They went home on the Friday with plans to return on the Sunday afternoon, we were going to watch the boys for them on Sunday night. Monday rolled around and I had my appointment so JA and Kristen watched the kids so David and I could both go. My check up was good but after telling my midwife about the contraction, show and based on my history (early, fast labours) she gave me an internal. I was about 3-4 cms dilated and the head was VERY well down. Based on that information, JA and family stayed with us for an extra night until my mum could come up, she was going to be up on Wednesday for Thanksgiving so came a day early. My mum had planned to leave us on the Thursday or Friday but our heavy snow arrived and she ended up being stuck with us. All the time I was contracting on and off but they never got regular or intense so the week went on. We made it to Saturday night with no baby still, the snow was falling and driving was getting worse and worse but all seemed calm so we went to bed..........
Something woke me from my sleep between 3 - 3:30 am. The next thing I feel a flow of fluid, I realise either my waters broke or I wet myself. I wake David up and tell him and send him to call the hospital while I tell mum we are underway and get myself some dry clothes to wear. So far I have not felt much in the way of contractions. We head out the door and by the time we get to the car I have a a few strong contractions. With all the snow it took a minute or 2 to get the car out of our street my contractions getting worse all the way there. We make it and I get checked over, it was probably close to 4 am by the time the midwife examined me and I was about 5 cms dilated. The contractions continued and at 5 am our baby was born and David told me we had a little girl. So my 3rd labour was about 1 hour 30 mins give or take. I only used my TENS machine so had a natural labour and delivery and again I say to any and all they are fantastic certainly worth using in labour.
She was born Sunday 28th November 2010, 0500 hrs, our heaviest baby at 7lbs 4oz.
It took us several days to decide on her name and spelling but we finally agreed on Aleah Hope Chapman. She is beautiful and her sisters love her.
For thanksgiving this year we were thankful just to be able to be together! There were 2 things conspiring against us. Firstly the big snow hit a day or 2 before the 25th making any travelling either impossible or very slow and dangerous. Secondly I was a ticking time bomb having been checked by the midwife earlier in the week and told that I was already 3-4 cms dilated and contracting on and off the whole week.
Despite all these things we headed off on Thursday to Aberdeen to gather at Russell, Rachael, Lewis and Libby house. John A, Kristen, Brennan, Jonty and mum were invited also. We all contributed to the meal which was magnificent but in my pregnant state I was not able to eat as much as I wanted to! The kids had fun playing together but, as is always the case, they were tired out. I had some strong contractions and we almost thought the evening would end with a trip to the hospital, but everything settled and we decided it was safe to travel home. We didn't get to stay as long as we wanted, the time past so quickly and the weather was against us so we headed for home. It was a slow journey home and we put the kids straight into their PJ's and into bed when we got home.
I am sorry to say that we did not take any pictures of our night. I don't remember if we forgot the camera or were just to lazy to get it out but this will have to be a picture less post.
As most of you know my dad died on October 6th. He had been living with cancer for about 4 years and had done extremely well during most of that time. In the early part of this year he began to suffer from lymphodema in one of his legs and by the end of the spring it had begun to affect his other leg. It got to the point that the entire lower half of this body was swollen. This caused him considerable discomfort and greatly reduced his mobility which in turn led to muscle wastage. There was nothing that could be done medically to alleviate the problem. Though the weakening of his body seemed a slow process the end of his life on earth came quickly. He was bedridden on the Tuesday (5th) and died on the Wednesday. This occurred in the final week before David was due his 2 week October break which meant that when we arrived in Stirling on that Wednesday we were able to stay for almost 3 weeks. My brother and his family were also able to be with us for about the same time. The funeral took place on the Saturday (9th) and it was beautiful, a real celebration of his life and the victory he gained in going to be with the Lord. We were amazed at the number of people that attended the funeral and reception and we were so thankful for their support. The congregation at Stirling held a service/tribute to my Dad on the Sunday, which was again very thoughtful and appreciated. We would also like to mention and thank Mitch, Isobel, Dick and Anne. Their help and friendship made this difficult time more bearable.
We also celebrated my Mum's birthday on the Sunday (10th); we had a meal together at a restaurant and later the kids helped to decorate a birthday cake for her.
After things had calmed down we decided we all needed a fun, family distraction and so planned a day out to the Sea Life aquarium at Loch Lomond. We ALL went - Grandad, Mum, JA, Kristen, Brennan, Jonty, David, Me, Abby and AJ. It was a great outing and though the kids were exhausted we made lots of fun memories and had some retail therapy in the gift shop.
Mum's birthday
Our family outing
All the family are doing reasonably well despite it being an obviously difficult time. We are happy for my Dad knowing he had made it home and claimed his reward but we also feel the loss of a great Christian gentleman, husband, father and grandfather. There are times when it still doesn't seem real and I wonder where he is or when he will walk through the door. So many times I think I will just call him and seek some wisdom on a task or problem, only to remember that fountain of knowledge is no longer there. Dad I love you and know I will see you again someday.
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