She has Arrived

So Monday night I went to bed having contractions and I was sure I was going into labor but nothing happened. 

So, Tuesday morning my sister Rachel came over and we walked and I had NO contraction.  So that afternoon I was sure nothing was going to happen but then they started. 

Around seven Dean and I went to the hospital.  My contractions were not that bad but I was afraid to wait too long and then not have time to get an epidural.  Luckily when they checked me I was dilated to a four and was having contractions every 2-3 minutes. 

It wasn't long before I was able to get my epidural and things were more comfortable.  Labor went on longer than I thought.  The epidrual wasn't working a great and I was feeling a lot of pressure.  Finally just after 2am they checked me and told me they would have me start pushing soon. 

I pushed for just under an hour and out came an 8lb, 20inch screaming baby girl with a ton of hair. 

Ms. Charlotte Marie Dockstader was born 4:08a.m. on May 9th. 

She was also not happy to be taken from her warm happy home.  She screamed for almost an hour but was much happier after a bath and getting swaddled. 

So far she is a good baby.  She has a very loud cry but luckily doesn't use it unless she is hungry.  She is good at nursing but will also take a bottle.  She will sleep through the kids screaming and Dean snoring.  So far it seems like she looks like my side of the family but we will see with time.  If you ask me she is pretty dang cute. 

The kids are good with her.  Abyy just loves her.  Carter wants to help change diapers and hold her.  Grant doesn't seem to notice she is around, which for now is a good thing. 

Welcome to the family Charlottle.  Love Mom, Dad, Abby, Carter and Grant.

 

Grant

So Grant is now taking his turn being the wild, cranky, non-human, belligerent boy in the house.  If the kid wasn't so dang cute I would have sold him to the Gypsies already.  He is happy if he gets what he wants but as soon as things don't go his way it is all out war. He does not negotiate. I have fought with this kid for seven hours straight because all he wanted to eat one day was junk food. 

Other than being the devil he is very smart and has a great vocabulary.  He is also very coordinated.  He loves riding Carter's bike and two wheeled scooter.  His pure obsession with Thomas the train seems to be dying out a little.  He now likes the characters from Cars. 

Grant is still a big boy.  He will be three in June and is already in 4T clothes and around 35 pounds.  He is a solid kid.  I threw out my back for the second time last week carrying him. 

Carter

Carter has been progressing very well.  He is in preschool twice a week and really enjoys himself.  He also started T-ball in April and is really having fun. He really hasn't show any interest in sports but as soon as we got to T-ball and he saw all the other kids he really got into it.  It is very fun to watch.  His first time up to bat he hit the ball and was so excited that he ran the wrong way even though Dean was right there running with him. 

Carter has also really mellowed out.  The rage and fits he used to display have almost completely disappeared.  Two years ago I would not believe that the Carter I have now is the same kid he was.  He is sweet and helpful.  He is always willing to give hugs and kisses.  He is also really good at sharing.  Carter will give almost anything to his brother to make peace. 

Although now mellow he still does and says crazy thing.  Some of my favorites are:

1. Carter told me he has dots (freckles) on his nose because Jesus wants him to be cool.
2. Ironman (Carter's toy) said the prayer at lunch
3. Carter came in from the garage asking for a drink of water to get the hair out of his mouth.  I asked why he had so much hair in his mouth and the told me it was because he had just licked the cat. 

Carter also recently had his kindergarten checkup.  He was 95% for his height and only 50% for his weight.  Tall and thin but otherwise healthy. 

We also had  Carter evaluated by the special ed team at Woods.  They told me he is within the normal range for his age. His preschool teacher has told me that he is behind his peers in some areas. We are working on the alphabet at home and hopefully he will catch up.  He will be reevaluated after is first quarter in Kindergarten and we will see if there is anything we need to do to help with his academics. 

Abby

So it's update time.  Miss Abby is now 8 years old!  She had a really fun birthday week.  She took goodies to class.  We went out to dinner on her birthday and she had her ears pierced.  Then Friday night she had her best friend/cousin Heidi over for a sleep over.  Then woke up Saturday for her birthday party at Skywalk!

Abby is a really good girl.  She does well in school.  She never complains about going and every day when I walk down to pick her up she has a smile on her face.  She is really helpful around the house and plays well with her brothers. 

Abby is also really good at talking.  When just the two of us go out I think she asks me about 1000 questions.  And, she told me, "Mom, its just because I am curious." 

My children crack me up on a daily basis. On Monday I was getting everything out to make lunches and noticed I only had enough turkey for one sandwich.  So, I asked Abby if she would be willing to be hot lunch.  She asked what was on the menu that day and I told her it was supervisors choice.  She then looked at me and said, "Mom that is just too risky."

Abby has also started piano lessons and seems to be enjoying that and she is anxious to start going to achievement day activities. 

Thinking Pink

Last week I went in for another ultrasound.  It took all of 15 seconds for the ultrasound tech to tell us the baby is a GIRL.

Carter was pretty upset.  He said, "I want a new brother."  I told him he already has a brother.  He replied, "Yeah, but Grant's naughty."

Abby is so excited to have a sister to share a room with.  I am excited to do some shopping.  I saved a lot of Abby's stuff but it has been picked through over the years. 

As for boys clothes/paraphernalia, if anyone is in need of or knows someone who could use some boy stuff up to size 2 let me know, it's free for the taking. 

Baby number four is a . . .

We went for our gender check ultrasound just over a week ago and we found out the baby is a BOY.  I cried a little, Abby was disappointed, Carter was happy,  Dean had no preference and Grant had no idea what was going on. 
I know the Lord send us the spirits that are supposed to come to our family and I came to terms with having one girl and three boys. 

UNTIL. . .

Today I went in for my mid-pregnancy ultrasound at Kaiser.  The lady doing our ultrasound asked if we wanted to know the gender of the baby and we told her that we went in for a gender check and already knew it was a boy. 

So, she started the ultrasound and she asked, "You said boy?"  "I am sorry but they were wrong, this baby is a GIRL."  I was in shock.  Just yesterday I was looking at boy names online.  I just stared at the screen then Dean came over and shook my leg and said, "We are having a girl." 

She proceeded with the ultrasound then said she wanted to check one more time.  I told her I was getting ready to give away all of Abby's clothes I have been saving for all of these years and she said don't give them away.  She said that she has been doing this a very long time and she was confident enough to tell us to paint the room pink. 

So, now that I am completely unsure one way or the other I am going to check with my doctor and see if it would be okay to have one more ultrasound because I don't feel certain one way or the other.  Although if I were betting it would be girl.

Grant Has Some News

Grant has some exciting news.  He is going to be a big brother!  Two weeks after we moved into the new house I found out I was pregnant. 

I am now 16 weeks along and feeling good and I have some of my energy back.  I had a while in the beginning that I was pretty sick but things are going well now. 

We are pretty excited to find out the gender of the baby.  Abby really wants a sister and I am tired of crazy, wild, dirty, stinky boys so I would like another girl too.

We are also wondering if we will even the Dockstader/Ortiz score.  Right now Dean and his clone Carter are outnumbered by brown eyed Ortiz's.  Will baby number four be another blue eyed Dockstader? 

Well, we will be able to answer one of our questions soon.  We have an appointment this Saturday to find out pink or blue and I can't wait. 

What do you think baby #4 will be?  Take the poll! --------->