Photos From Christmas...Better Late Than Never!

OK...so it is almost a month since Christmas and I have yet to post any photos...so here you go. Better late than never.

We had a wonderful time at Christmas. My nephew and nieces were in town to share it with us. Both my sister and brother-in-law recently started new jobs and could not get the time off to join us. Since she is a nurse and he is a K-9 officer, they both had to work on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. Kyla and Bryleigh loved having their cousins around, as did the rest of us, but we really missed Aunt Kristie and Uncle Kevin too.

Of the hundreds of photos that were taken, here are some of my favorites...



This photo is of Kadence watching the Santa Tracking website. All of the kids thought that it was so much fun learning where Santa was currently at.



This photo is of Kadence and Bryleigh. My sweet little Baby Mango was just in love with Bryleigh and wanted nothing more than to spend time with her. If Bryleigh was crying, Kadence was there to rub her face, give her hugs & kisses, find a toy to entertain her, or just sing a song. What a sweet pair the two of them made!



The four oldest children wanted to leave notes for Santa, as well as the fresh made cookies and milk for Santa and the carrots and apples for the reindeer. Santa was so impressed by this that he also left a handwritten Thank You note.



Mikey, Kaleigh, Kyla, and Kadence all had a slumber party in Bryleigh's bedroom on Christmas Eve. Mom Mom and PaPa Jan slept in Kyla's bedroom, Aunt Amy slept on the couch, and PaPa Ron knocked on the front door around 6am. We all gathered in the family room a little bleary-eyed to open up our Christmas Stockings and eat breakfast. Thankfully the kids all had enough energy to help the grownups with their stocking gifts!







After breakfast, the anxious children were finally allowed to go into the living room to see what Santa had left under the tree. The wrapping paper shredding frenzy had begun! Kyla is really going to love that wild hair photo! I might save it to put in the yearbook for her Senior year! Someone had suggested that we use the photo as a burglar alarm...instead of "Beware of the Dog" how about "These Premises are Patrolled by a Crazed 4-Year-Old"!

Not sure what the favorite gift was for each kid-let because there were so many to choose from...

Mikey loved his toy grenades, his huge checkers game, and his play army & police men.





Kaleigh couldn't decide between her Hannah Montana doll or her Leapster Gaming Set. She also loved all of the clothes that she received and kept changing outfits.





Kyla was really excited about her shower radio that was just like her Aunt Micki's, as well as the guitar that Santa made sure that she received...and we cannot forget about all of the books...that Great Grandma lovingly read to her.





Kadence loved her "big girl" 3-wheeler, her life-like baby doll, and the Barbie backpack that was filled with doll clothes.





Bryleigh enjoyed her first Christmas too. She received lots of clothes and toys, but her favorite gift was being lovingly held by her Mommy, her Mom Mom, and her Mom Mom Mom.





And because Mikey, Kaleigh, and Kadence all live up in the hills of Tennessee...each one of them also received a nice warm jacket to keep out the cold. Mikey looked so cool in his leather coat and Kaleigh & Kadence felt like princesses in their "fur" coats! What a smart Santa...





Afterwards, Kadence and Bryleigh were exhausted...as was Papa Jan and Mom Mom.



After their naps, Papa Jan and Mom Mom helped prepare dinner...the kids played with their toys, and Mom Mom Mom held a still sleeping Bryleigh with Big Sister Kyla protectively sitting close by.




Well that pretty much fills you all in on Christmas as our house. Hope you all enjoyed the photos.

Brad's Amazing Grandmother...

I have to share this wonderful article that was recently written about Brad's grandmother. I have always thought that she was an amazing woman, but I learned so much more about her after reading this article.

The article was written by a reporter for her local newspaper, the Robinson Daily News. The photograph was taken by Brad's brother and his wife. The presentation took place during the annual family get-together on Christmas Eve.

Scarlet O'Kara

~~~



Grandson makes wish come true
Marie Leonard gets the best Christmas present she could imagine — her high-school diploma

By TOM COMPTON
Daily News

For years Brian Chapman has heard his grandmother, Marie Leonard, talk about growing up in Wisconsin - with a lingering regret.

During a recent hospital stay, the 91-year-old Leonard again talked with her grandson about how she wished she could have graduated from high school. She was only a few credits short, even though she was only considered a sophomore. She said she always wanted to finish school, and at one time had dreams of going to art school.

Taking her request to heart, Chapman wrote to the Antigo Unified School District about his grandmother requesting an honorary diploma. Surprising everyone, the school district in northeastern Wisconsin was able to verify through records that Leonard did attend school there from 1930 to 1932, and that the board of education voted to grant his request and issued Leonard an honorary diploma.

Her grandson's presentation to her made for a very special Christmas Eve, but her life before and since her missed graduation has been an education in itself.

Leonard was 13 in 1929 when the stock market crashed and banks closed overnight. With no money moving in the economy, businesses began to close and people by the millions were put out of work. Leonard's family lived in northeastern Wisconsin near a little railroad town named Monico. Her grandparents had a 180-acre farm and her father operated two logging camps.

By 1932 the need for lumber had stopped, and Leonard's father was forced to close his camps and leave fresh-cut trees lying on the ground to rot. With the last of his money he paid off his workers and moved his family back to the farm.

In the meantime, Leonard's grandfather still had a $3,500 mortgage on the farm; he wasn't concerned, since he had money in the bank to make the payments, but when the bank closed he lost that money and the farm was foreclosed on.

At the time, Leonard was attending school at Antigo some 25 miles away. Her parents had to pay for her room and board, but with logging camps closed, she was forced to quit school and move to the farm.

"It really floored me," Leonard said.

With 12 children in the combined family and a 15-year difference between herself and the youngest child, Leonard spent much of her time looking after the other children. And, though life was rough all over the country, people living in rural areas or on farms often found things a little easier, being able to grow their own food to eat.

"We were lucky to have cows," Leonard said. "We hand-separated cream from milk, and often took the cream to the local cheese factory and had it made into butter and cheese. We had chickens, and mother would trade the extra eggs at the store. We always had something to eat."

Along with raising big gardens with lots of potatoes, Leonard said they would kill a pig or cow every fall and smoke the hams and bacon in the smokehouse. They also fished for brown and speckled trout in nearby streams.

"Every spring we would dump a five-gallon bucket full of trout minnows in the stream back of our house, Leonard said. "We kids would catch a stringer of trout or bass, and if we did not need it at home, we could sell it to the chef on the Pullman railroad cars. They would give you a dollar or two for the fresh fish," Leonard said. "It was a lot of money back then."

"I would sometimes sell fresh milk," Leonard recalled. "I had a metal container that I would take to neighbors and fill up their bottles. You didn't waste anything."

Leonard remembers, "bums," or unemployed men, would often come to the farmhouse looking for a handout, but they were never turned away. "Some would chop wood or do a chore for their food," Leonard said. She also remembered her father putting extra beds in the farmhouse for the men from his logging camp who had nowhere else to go. They would work the farm just to have a place to sleep and food to eat.

There were happy times, too. "We enjoyed riding in the hay wagon, and fishing," Leonard said. "We had a garage where grandpa kept his wagons, and we had a surrey with a fringe on the top with two dapple gray mares named Nancy and Topsey to pull it."

By 1939, the then 20 year-old Leonard met her husband Russell "Rud" Leonard. Rud was a professional golfer and the local pro at the Rhinelander Golf Course. Leonard said she played golf in school, but played left-handed. "Rud said 'Nobody plays left-handed,' and taught to me play right-handed," Leonard said.

Her husband was one of six brothers who became golf pros from French Lick, Ind. He had red hair, but because one of his older brothers also had red hair and was called "Red" he became "Rud."

In 1941, the couple moved to Green Bay to Sunny Brook golf course, where Leonard helped out in the pro shop doing the bookkeeping. She had helped her father with bookkeeping when he was an assessor. In 1945, they moved to Marquette, Mich., where she got into the lunch business.

"I would buy stuff from a local deli and make sandwiches in my kitchen and sell it to the golfers," Leonard said.

In 1949, they returned to French Lick for a family reunion and "Rud" was offered a job a the country club at Huntingburg, Ind. Later on, the country club in Vincennes, now the Elks Club, offered to double his salary to come there.

In 1951, they moved to Robinson where he was the golf pro at the then-Crawford County Country Club. They moved to Centralia in 1954 and later moved to Mt. Carmel, where they stayed until Rud retired from golf in 1972.

After retiring, the Leonards moved back to Robinson where they had kept the house, and bought the houses on each side as rentals. Rud sold lumber for Allen Lumber Co. and Leonard kept books for Robinson Township until 1979, when she retired.

"We liked Robinson," Leonard said.

She said both she and her husband loved playing golf. "Rud loved to teach golf," Leonard said. "He gave lessons at Oak Glen Golf Course, and also helped to lay out the first nine holes."

When Rud died in 1997 the couple had been married for 61 years. They had raised seven children, five girls and two boys. All but two are still living.

Leonard has faced her own mortality, surviving seven cancer surgeries since 1980. "The Good Lord has got something for me to do yet and is keeping me around," Leonard said.

Though there have been many changes over her lifetime, Leonard is concerned about what she sees today.

"Scary seeing so much happening just like then," Leonard said about news of recent bank closings and mortgage foreclosures.

"I tried to teach my children the value of a nickel," Leonard said. "I would send them to Fred McQueen's store to learn to buy and spend wisely."

Out Of The Mouths Of My Babes...

It is so very true that children say and do the darnedest things...and with that said, I have to share what my two did last night.

After a shopping excursion to pick up a swing for Bryleigh, followed by dinner with "Aunt" Kelly, and a stop at Daddy's office to visit while he worked a late night event with his Sales Team, the four of us girls headed home, tired and ready for jammies and our warm beds.

As a way to keep Kyla awake during the long trip, we kept a lookout for brightly colored Christmas Displays. Less than a couple of miles from home, Bryleigh started crying, wanting to be nursed. As we passed one neighborhood, a local Sheriff's Deputy was pulling out onto the same road as us. Kyla made the observation as we continued driving. Less than half a mile later, that same Deputy was behind us with his lights flashing, creating another version of "Pretty" Christmas Lights.

Now I know what you all are thinking, but believe me, I was not speeding. I drive like a "Sunday Driver" when I have the girls in the car with me. (No comments on my driving habits when I am sans children!) It was bewildering to Aunt Micki and I as to why we were being pulled over. Maybe he thought I was driving too slow? Maybe in my new mommy overly tired state, I was not as steady in my lane as usual and he wanted to make sure that I hadn't been drinking? The possibilities seemed endless...

Being fully aware of the dark state of night, as well as the fact that I had a car full of "vulnerable" ladies, I slowed down even more and signaled that I was proceeding to the closest light parking lot. He pulled up behind me and then turned on his very powerful spot light, pointing it directly at my Jeep so that he could see. It bathed the area in light, but created a blinding effect for the entire inside of the vehicle. This caused Bryleigh to cry even harder and Kyla asked if we were being arrested...

I rolled down my window as the officer cautiously walked up to the driver's side door. He asked if I knew why he had pulled me over and above Bryleigh's very loud cries of hunger, I said that I did not. He said that my tag lights were out. At this moment, Kyla, in typical 4-year-old fashion, starts engaging the man in conversation..."Hello Mr. Police Officer Man"..."I love Police Officers"...My Uncle Kevin is Police Officer"..."Your so Handsome"...and the comments continued on and on.

I gave the slightly embarrassed deputy my license, registration, and proof of insurance, as well as told him that the Jeep was registered under my husband's name. He walked back to his patrol vehicle and ran my tag to verify that what I told him was true...as well as to probably see if I had any outstanding warrants or had escaped from a mental institute recently. When he walked back to the window of my very noisy vehicle, he told me that all my information checked out and he would not give me a ticket..."this time", but that I needed to get the situation fixed as soon as possible. I asked if I could get out of my vehicle and have him show me what was wrong. Kyla continued on with her dialog..."Hey Mr. Police Officer Man...Can I look too?" "Can I see your car?" "Will you take me for a ride" "Are you listening to me, Mr. Police Officer Man?"

After viewing the problem area, he bid me good night and walked back to his vehicle...probably glad to be rid of this sleep deprived mommy and her noisy Jeep filled with a Cop-Crazy Preschooler and very Vocal Newborn! And as I even more cautiously proceeded on my way, Kyla added the proverbial Cherry-on-Top..."I cannot wait to tell my teacher and friends at school tomorrow!"

Hope you all enjoyed this moment in my life...if it made you laugh...then my job is done. Never a dull moment in regards to the Atchison's!

Have a great day!

Kara

(On a side note, I had to call Kyla's beloved Uncle Kevin. He loved it and also asked me if I knew why the deputy really pulled me over...He probably had planned on using the burned out tag lights as probable cause to search my vehicle to make sure that there were not any illegal drugs. All I have to say is...as if!)

The Perfect Christmas Gift For Kyla...

I found it! The perfect Christmas gift for Kyla. It combines two of her most favorite things...Clothes and Lindt Chocolate! Just wish that the dress was more appropriate for a 4 year old!

The other day, Kyla was at the mall (on Black Friday none-the-less) when she saw the store front for Lindt Chocolate. She turned to her daddy and Aunt Micki and said..."I love that chocolate!" What can I say...the kid has good taste. I love their chocolate too!

Kara

Finally Home...

Just wanted to give an update about what has been happening in the Atchison household since Saturday night.

Shortly after I had sent out the Bryleigh Update e-mail, I experienced some complications and ended up in the emergency room. From around midnight until early Sunday morning, I was evaluated in the ER. It was determined that I needed to be admitted and receive some more intensive treatments. After two units of blood, countless IVs, several different types of medications, and a few days of monitoring, I was finally deemed well enough to continue my recovery at home.

It is so good to be home and I am feeling alot better. Still tired, but very thankful that I am getting stronger every day.

I want to thank everyone for the phone calls and prayers that were made on my behalf. I greatly appreciate all of them.

Love to you all,

Kara

2 Weeks Old

(Bryleigh Eden - 1 Week Old)



(Bryleigh Being Held By Enrico)



(Brad blowing out the candles on the cake that Kyla helped make)



(Bryleigh sleeping after Thanksgiving dinner)



(Kyla sleeping with her "other" Grandma Kitty after Thanksgiving dinner)



(Go Gators Bryleigh!)

Well, Bryleigh Eden is 2 weeks old and things have not slowed down in the household since she arrived. She had her first doctor's appointment on Friday the 16th and she was 8 lbs 2 ozs and 21 inches long. When she went back on Wednesday the 21st, she weighed 9 lbs! She has a huge appetite and is doing a great job nursing. Hopefully she will help Mommy lose all of the left over baby weight!

I am having a harder time with my recovery because of the unexpected C-Section. I was really looking forward to the easy recovery from a natural labor and delivery. Instead, I am discovering all of the things that I cannot due because of my abdominal muscles being cut! The next time I hear another woman talk about how wonderful a C-Section is and so much easier than a vaginal delivery...she is going to get an earful from me! Plus, this is making me reconsider my recent daydream of getting a tummy tuck and boob job! Sorry Brad, but I don't think I can handle the pain and limited abilities again...

Over all, I do have to say that HypnoBirth worked for me and is a wonderful tool for any expectant woman to use. Even after 2 1/2 days of active labor and being stalled at 9cm, I was still doing well, walking around and not feeling any pain...just pressure and a little discomfort. We were blessed many times over during this time with some wonderful nurses (Kelli, Linda, & Gail) that helped out in so many ways, as well as having Denby, our HypnoBirth instructor, stop by and spend many hours helping us maintain my level of self-hypnosis.

I didn't start feeling any pain until they administered Pitocin to "help put me over the edge"...and when that didn't work, I agreed to the epidural because I knew in my heart that a C-Section was going to be needed. Bryleigh was in the head down backward facing position, but she was crooked and having trouble moving down. Every time the Pitocin was increased enough to help labor progress, her heartbeat dropped and she went into distress...so for her safety, we decided to have the C-Section. And at 11:53 am, she was born...and gave a hearty cry shortly afterwards. She was 8 lbs 7 ozs 20 inches long with her father's outside linebacker shoulders!

We stayed in the hospital for 3 days and had alot of wonderful visitors, including a wonderful surprise visit from Enrico who was an exchange student that stayed with my family in 1993. I could not believe my eyes when he walked into my room...and was pretty sure that he was a hallucination from all the pain meds!

The past two weeks have gone by in a blur. Bryleigh and I have kept busy spending time together. We have done a little entertaining by celebrating Brad's birthday on the 20th and then had Thanksgiving at the house. Didn't have the guts or energy to brave the insanity on Black Friday, but did visit a couple of stores that did not have the crazy crowds.

Today, we have spent another quiet day at the house recovering from all the activity from the past few days...and watching College Football. Cannot believe that regular season is over again and the Bowl Games are just around the corner! Bryleigh is wearing her first Gator outfit and looks so cute. Special thanks go out to her "Aunt" Denise for giving it to her, as well as her Big Sister Kyla for giving her the stuffed Gator.

Tomorrow should also be another busy day. We are planning on taking Bryleigh to church for the first time...followed by a huge family breakfast and then decorating the house for Christmas.

Well, I think that I have caught you all up on the past two weeks...so I will close this for now...

Kara

P.S. I finally did get my Eggs Benedict on Thanksgiving morning. My wonderful mother made it and I am a happy mommy!

Chili Pepper has finally arrived...And her name is...

Just wanted to let you all know that Chili Pepper has finally arrived! And her name is Bryleigh Eden Atchison.

After a couple days of active labor, it was determined that my labor had stalled. I was not opening past 9 cm and Chili Pepper was too big to be born naturally by me. Guess she inherited her father's shoulders! So, at 11:53am on Sunday, November 11, 2007, Big Little Chili Pepper was born via Cesarean Section. She weighed in at 8 lbs and 7 ozs and is 20 inches long. She gave a healthy cry shortly after coming into this world and has hardly made a peep since!

Here are two photos that were taken in the Surgical Delivery Room shortly after she was born. And there will be plenty more on the blog once I get them down loaded.

Sorry to cause so much worry and concern with the delay...but after going 48 hours of labor without sleep and no pain medication...I was a little tuckered out!

As of right now, we are suppose to be leaving the hospital some time on Wednesday.

Another Update On Baby Chili Pepper - In The Hospital...

Well, it appears that I have become such a techno-geek that I cannot stay away from my computer. I have been in the hospital since around 1:30 this afternoon. Still having surges and still not feeling anything more than slight pressure and a little discomfort due to her head being low.

We have a really great nurse. Her name is Kelli and she is the best. I have my antibiotic IV in place and am currently working on my second dose. I have to be in the bed for about 15 minutes every hour so that they can check Chili's heart beat and monitor my surges. Other than that, I am free to move around. We are done laps around the common areas of the third floor, as well as spent some time in a wonderfully warm and soothing shower. And when I am hanging out in my room, I am usually standing or sitting on my yoga ball.

I do have to say that the nurses here think that I am insane...probably because I am still laughing, as well as running or doing squats and lunges during my laps.

On that note, I am going to sign off now so that I can start another walk-about. I am trying to keep as busy and active as possible...cause once my "membranes release" (sorry for that visual), then I am not allowed to wander far from my room.

Love ya,

Kara & Miss Chili Pepper

P.S. Who ever is the first person to come and visit me after Chili Pepper is born and brings me some wonderful Eggs Benedict...they will be my most favorite visitor ever! I am having trouble visualizing anything other than Eggs Benedict with lots of Hollandaise Sauce and plenty of Hot Sauce! What can I say...this Zen Mommy is also a Hungry Mommy!

Update On Baby Chili Pepper - The Time Has Come...

The time has come...Acupuncture worked. I started noticing that my stomach was having regular surges (that I was not feeling any discomfort from!)...so to appease my husband, I made an appointment with the doctor's office. Guess what! I am between 4 - 5 cm open, over 80% thinned, and in active labor. The nurse practitioner that saw me cannot believe how calm I am...besides the fact that my sister and I were cracking jokes and talking about how she will be bring a nice glass of red wine to the recovery room for me!!!

I was told that I can go home long enough to get my stuff together and then I have to head to the hospital to check in and start getting my antibiotic IV. So, hopefully you all will be getting another update e-mail with photos (and a name).

And like I told David, my brother-in-law last night...Chili Pepper was kind enough to wait until the day after his birthday because she didn't want to share his day with him either!!! (Love ya Dave!)

Love to you all,

Kara & Miss Chili Pepper

P.S. Wouldn't you know that as I was calmly driving home, I get a phone call from Kyla's preschool. She is sick and I had to stop by and pick her up. They all came out to huge me and couldn't not believe that I am in active labor, walking around, smiling, and laughing! You have to love HypnoBirthing. Thank you so much Denby!

Update On Baby Chili Pepper - Wish Me Luck!

Well, I am officially a week past due and my doctor's office called earlier to tell me that they wanted to schedule me for induction today. I told them that I didn't want to be induced...that my doctor did. So, the appointment was canceled. I am pretty sure that he will not be too happy with me if I am still pregnant for next week's appointment.

So, with that in mind, I have an appointment today at 4:15 to meet with a highly recommended acupuncturist. He is certain that after once session, I will be in labor. We shall see. My father-in-law will be going with me, in case I am unable to drive home.

So, wish me luck and I will keep you all posted. Today is my brother-in-law's birthday...so if I do have Chili Pepper today, hopefully he won't mind sharing his day!

Love to you all,

Kara & Miss Chili Pepper

P.S. Hope you enjoy the photos from our recent Baby Bump Photo Session! Told you all that I am huge!

Picture Day For Kyla, Plus Papa Ron's Birthday

First things first...Chili Pepper is still not ready to come out an play yet...but my goal is to stay busy all day today, cleaning around the house and as my husband ordered, taking at least two long walks around the neighborhood. And if that fails, I have received the name of a very good acupuncturist that I will call tomorrow! On the bright side, I have not had to content with any phone calls from my doctor's office trying to convince me to schedule an induction!

Today was Picture Day at Kyla's Preschool. She looked so cute that I had to take a photo before she walked out the door. Hopefully you all enjoy it as much as I did.

Also, yesterday was Papa Ron's birthday. We went out for some spicy Mexican Food, but that hasn't helped as of yet either! Still, it did taste really good! Love the spicy stuff! Kyla picked out his cake, including what it said and the decorations all by herself. That also tasted really good. Had two pieces myself...needed the extra energy to keep hauling my ever expanding girth around!

Have a great day!

Love to you all,

Kara & Miss Chili Pepper

P.S. My mother just called with her exercise orders for me. I am to find a huge, but safe set of stairs and walk up and down them for as long as I can handle it! Dare I ask if anyone else has any other suggestions?

Latest Photos Of Kyla

Had to share these photos of Kyla. She is growing up so fast. The first one is of her and her father working on their laptops the other day. It is so cute to watch her acting like a grown-up. If she sees Mommy, Daddy, or someone else working on their laptop, then she has to get hers and "do some work too."

The second one is of her showing off her new fuzzy pink slippers. Some wonderful women from Brad's office sent them to her in a beautiful Care Basket. There was a special treat in the basket for each of us, including Little Chili Pepper.

The last two photos are of Kyla singing and dancing to one of her most favorite songs...Dancing Queen by ABBA. She has 5 favorite songs that she has to hear each time we get into the car...and they have to be played in the same order. It starts with the "Clap Clap" song (aka We Will Rock You by Queen) and is followed by We Are The Champions, also by Queen. Then "The Other Queen Song" has to play. That would be Dancing Queen by ABBA, followed by my personal favorite, "The Water Song" more widely known as Waterloo. After those songs play, then we listen to Daddy's songs...which is anything by John Denver. For such a young child, she sure does have ecletic taste in music, but I guess that I should have known that when I saw her rocking out to Iron Man by Ozzy when she was less than a year old!

Hope you all are doing well and having a great day!

Kara, Kyla, & Little Chili Pepper

Update On Baby Chili Pepper - 40 Weeks And 3 Days

Another Monday is here and still no Chili Pepper!!! Her Guess-Date was this past Friday, November 2nd and we had a couple of instances where we thought that she was going to "make her move", but apparently she still is too shy to greet everyone.

At today's doctor's appointment, my weight was good, lost a pound since last week, and my blood pressure is still were is should be. Her heart beat is as strong as ever and she is still in the head down position, getting ready to make her grand entrance. All is good news!

The one area of contention is that today's doctor wants to schedule me for inducement of labor. The preference would be for me to go into the hospital this week, with next week being the latest that I am allowed to wait. We talked about natural methods of starting labor, as well as the possibility of only using the minimal amount of pitocin to get labor started and then have it stopped so that my body can naturally take over. I kept stressing how much I want all of this to happen naturally, but that if there is a medical necessity, that I would not oppose any intervention.

Today's exam revealed that I am at 2 1/2 to 3 cm open. That is a change from last week of at least 1/2 cm. I also spent some time on the fetal monitor. Chili Pepper's movements were tracked as well as any surges that I was having. During the 30+ minutes that I was monitored, her heart rate was good, as were her movements. I even experienced some pretty good surges that were placed within 10 minutes of each other...including one that registered really high on the monitor. Overall, did not feel anything more than pressure and slight discomfort.

The monitoring proved a point to me that I had been wondering about. Due to my near continuous state of relaxation, could I be experiencing surges without realizing it? Guess the answer is yes. HypnoBirthing is already working for me. Now I just need to hold the induction off until I naturally attain the level of labor that is necessary for Chili Pepper to make her move! I also have another appointment scheduled for next Monday at 10:30. Hopefully we have to cancel that one.

Will keep you all posted. Say some prayers that more starts happening later today or tomorrow...especially since tomorrow is Papa Ron's birthday!

Have a great day!

Love to you all,

Kara & Miss Chili Pepper

More Halloween Fun

Well, we all had a blast last night. The three girls looked so cute in their costumes and the older girls even got into the festive fun. Couldn't get the men to participate, but that isn't unusual.

As you can see from the photos, Kyla was Tinker Belle and it fit her personality perfectly. She was in constant motion...a little ball of burning energy and light! Hannah was the cutest little bat, while Hailey was such an angelic little Angel. As for the grown-up girls, Amy was Little Red Riding Hood on the look-out for the Big Bad Wolf. Micki was a scary, but good witch. And me...can you guess? I was a pregnant housewife! Had alot of comments on how realistic my fake belly was!

The three little girls made a point to visit every house in the neighborhood and came home with overflowing bags of candy. Then we all relaxed at the end of the driveway eating chili and drinking hot apple cider. Afterwards, it was into the house to check all the candy before trying to calm these three burst of energy enough to get them to sleep! Not sure about Hailey and Hannah, but Kyla was one grumpy bear this morning.

Now that Halloween is over and Papa Ron is back in town, let's hope that Chili Pepper is finally ready to greet her anxiously awaiting public! Tomorrow is her Guess Date so who knows?!?

Kara & Chili Pepper