Why the existence of this blog is completely pointless...

Allow me to give you a brief glimps into my everyday life.

It's 9 am.
Children A-E are up and about.
Child A is playing with legos.
Child B (the artist) is writing, drawing, cutting and pasting.
Children C-D have decided to get out every board game they own and scatter the contents of said board games across the length of the house.
Child E has messed her diaper and is hungry.
Children A-D are dressed, which means that 4 pairs of pj's are lying somewhere on the floor. (Side note: There are lovely hooks on all bedroom doors whose purpose is to house said pjs.) This also means that various clothing has, for absolutely no reason, been pulled out and discarded on the floor.
There are 5 beds to be made. (Side note: Children A-D are supposed to make their beds before exiting their rooms. Clearly they are very obedient children.)
Someone (most likely Child B) has taken a bath and left the bathroom a disaster.
Someone (most likely Child B) has taken all the clean laundry out of the drier and left it on the floor whilst searching for something to wear.
There are 5 clean loads of laundry to fold.
There are 5 dirtly loads of laundry to wash.
Children A-D are hungry and couldn't wait for breakfast, and therefore made themselves toast, leaving the kitchen a disaster.
There are various toys, diapers, blankets etc scattered throughout the house.
Daddy needs his lunch packed.
Mommy didn't sleep last night.
Mommy needs coffee.
Note: All of this occurs on a typical day. On a school day, please add to the above statements that the house must be cleaned, breakfast served, and school began by 8 AM. Therefore, I must rise long before the sun.

And that, my friends, is why the existence of this blog is completely pointless. Because I will never, ever have time to update it.
That is all.

PS. The only reason I had time to update today is because Children A-D spent the night at Grandma's last night. Thank you.

What do we do on hot summer days?

Hey, what's this?

Look, Dad! I got the hose!

Good thing big brother is such a good sport!

I'm sure this sweet little girl will never torture her big brothers like that!

Rejoice?

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you". 1 Thess. 5:16-18

This hit me today. Let me tell you, I don't particularly feel like rejoicing today. Or giving thanks. Or praying. The house is (again) a mess. It's 1:30 in the afternoon and I still have so much to do. There is more to accomplish than any one person is capable of accomplishing- even me.

I'm gonna be honest with you- this transition to 5 kids has been hard. I'm exhausted and I can't seem to keep up anymore. Elyce is 10 weeks old as of yesterday and we still haven't managed to get back on a workable daily schedule. Most days I look around at all that I need to do and I just feel like running away. And I just keep wondering what I'm going to do when school starts up again!

Today when I read this verse I was greatly convicted of my bad attitude. I have no right to feel sorry for myself. I am truly so blessed in life. Five healthy children, a loving husband, a beautiful home and somehow God always provides for our needs.

So when I start to feel frustrated and defeated and am going to remind myself to rejoice and give thanks in all my "circumstances".

To give thanks for those messy, noisy, beautiful kids.

Give thanks for the house that is currently in a state of chaos and disaster.

And to pray- without ceasing- for the strength and grace to endure.

I'm sensing a theme here...

I've been sifting through old photos today that have been sitting in random folders on my desktop- waiting to be sent to the lab for printing- and ran across these photos of Lilah. The poor girl has always had to grab a nap whenever and wherever she could... I guess those are the breaks when you're a fourth child! I wonder if Elyce will have the same ability to sleep in strange positions?

Five Little Peppers

Life is Busy

I had no idea how crazy this one little baby girl would make my life!

I barely have time to breathe lately -and sleeping is completely out of the question. Other things have added to the craziness as well.. such as the fact that Lilah has decided that using the toilet is optional and it's much better to just pee in her undies and get mommy's attention for a little while..... Oy! I keep reminding myself that it will get easier... I hope I'm not lying to myself just to make myself feel better. 'Cause that would just be wrong.

I've been trying to find the time to type out Elyce's birth story... not that it's super exciting but it's memories, ya know. So I figured I'd do it now that it's dinner time and Lilah is in hysterics for no apparent reason. Don't ask me why. Call it sleep deprivation.

We were on the schedule at the hospital for an induction on April 7th, exactly a week before Elyce's due date. We'd been on the schedule for weeks.

Why?

Because I couldn't handle pregnancy for a day longer than I had to.

I know, I'm a wimp.

But I was exhausted.

This pregnancy, with all of the pre-term labor stuff, was trying. And I was so tired of the contractions and pain and never knowing when I would finally have her, I just was ready for it to be over with.

So, you can imagine my disappointment when every pregnant woman in Kootenai County decided that April 7 was the day to go into labor. Labor and Delivery was full and all they could tell me was that they would call me when they had a room free.

I spent the day on pins and needles, trying really hard not to be cranky with everyone around me. I put all my nervous energy into baking a giant double batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Finally, around 1 pm Brady couldn't stand my jumpiness any longer and decided to take the kids to the park in our neighborhood to play some basketball. I put on an old movie and made a pot of coffee and tried to relax with my mom.

The next thing I knew the kids came bursting through the door shouting "Daddy hurt himself!". Yes. Daddy had sprained his ankle. Badly. He put some ice on his ankle, took some Ibuprofen and went to take a nap.

And was rudely awakened 20 minutes later by his hugely pregnant wife shouting "They called! Wake up! We get to go in! Hurry, 'cause I'm not missing out on that room!!!"

We threw our things into the car (unfortunately forgetting to throw some Ibuprofen in as well) and made our way to the hospital. I got my bed and my wrist band and informed the nurses that I would not be leaving until I had this baby, one way or the other.

Just kidding.

But I felt like it when they told me that between the time they had called me and my arrival two more woman had come in to L&D.... and that if either of them were actually in labor I would get bumped again.

Thankfully, they were both false alarms and we got to stay!

My doctor had called to tell us that he wouldn't be able to come in to break my water until around 9:30 PM. We were fine with that, got the IV going......... and started getting caught up on 24.

What? Nothing like a little Jack Bauer while you're in labor.

My sister in law, Jessica came in a short time later and she and Brady watched a movie while I took a nap.

Around 8:30 I was uncomfortable enough to get my epidural... but still not in much pain. I knew from experience that I wouldn't really make any progress until my water had been broken and I wanted to have the epidural out of the way beforehand.

My doctor ended up not being able to come in until around 11:15 (the poor man delivered 4 babies, including Elyce in two days) and he broke my water. I was still only 3 cm. At 12:45 AM I was 5 cm and by 1:15 AM I was complete.

My last 3 deliveries, I'd given birth after just 1 or 2 easy pushes, so we honestly believed that we'd have a baby in five minutes.

We started pushing.

And kept pushing.

For an hour and a half we pushed. Nothing. My poor, crippled husband at this point had an ankle the size of a football.

It was black and blue.

He kept having to go sit down between pushes to get off his ankle. Poor guy. Thankfully Jess was there to fill in! She was an awesome coach/leg holder.

Finally, we decided to take a break. I had been up at this point for 24 hours, since 3 AM the night before and I was exhausted. The doctor said that the baby was doing great so there was no need to use the vacuum or hurry her along and we should just try to sleep for a couple of hours and see what happened. Sounded like a plan to us! Jess ran home to feed Eli and Brady and I just crashed hard for a couple of hours.

I woke up around 4 AM feeling just awful. Tons of pressure. I needed to sit up. I needed the puke bucket. I couldn't move from the waist down.

And my husband was snoring away on the couch.

I had just finished saying that I NEVER get sick during labor. The moral of this portion of the tale? Never say never. The nurse came in just in time and helped me get sat up, and Jess came back just in time to hold my hair back.

Poor Jess.

It's a good thing she loves me. I'm afraid she got to know me more that day than she probably ever wanted to. She's a good sis in law.

I looked over at Brady. Still snoring. Just then Doc came in and we decided to start pushing again. This time, I knew that I had to get her out or we were going to have to use the vacuum, and if that didn't work it would be a c-section. I was determined. Half an hour later, at 4:47 AM on April 8th, our beautiful baby girl was being placed on my chest.

She was posterior with a brow presentation- meaning that she was facing up with her head thrown back so that her forehead was born first. It was pretty amazing that we were able to deliver her in that position without her turning and without using the vacuum. Her little head was so misshapen the poor thing!

But she was beautiful.

Dinosaur head and all.

It's amazing and indescribable the feeling you have after having given birth. So grateful for a healthy baby, so exhausted and so in love.

The kids and my mom gave her a Birthday party the next evening at the hospital, complete with brownies, balloons and a birthday candle.

She's the sweet, perfect addition to our family.

Life is beautiful

I'm sitting here blogging with my beautiful baby in my lap, grateful and thankful for a safe delivery and a beautiful, healthy baby girl!

Baby Elyce Marie was born on Thursday morning, April 8th. Everything went well, and she's just the most amazing little thing!

And yes. We changed her name.

The day before she was born.

That's just how we roll.

We're unbelievably in love with this baby girl. We're going to need some time to adjust to having so many kids- but I know we'll figure it out. We've been so blessed!

Elyce Marie Campbell, 4 days old

April Showers

It's April! And it's showering and snowing just to prove that it's really spring. My mom is here now, and we're having a fun visit with her as well as with Jessica and the boys! It's been so good to get to see those sweet nephews of mine. They are so cute and sweet!

On Wednesday I had a regular check up at the doctor's, and my blood pressure was high. I had pre-eclampsia with my oldest, so after checking it several times at the office the doctor sent me over to Labor and Delivery (again) for monitoring and the possibility of induction. I am seriously getting tired of checking in and out of Labor and Delivery! I spent a couple of hours at the hospital and after laying down and resting my pressure went down so I was able to come home. However, they believe I have gestational hypertension which is likely to turn into pre-eclampsia, so I am on bedrest to keep my blood pressure down. I was actually kind of bummed, because if I have to be lazy, I'd like to at least have a baby to hold! But instead, I get to spend the last few days of my pregnancy in bed. Not a great way to make the time go by quickly. But, at least it means I'll be well rested for when baby girl arrives!

In the meantime, we are praying for a safe delivery and a healthy baby!

Life in Limbo

Waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

I find myself conflicted lately, as I'm really not ready mentally for this baby to make her appearance- but good gracious I'm uncomfortable and tired all the time and so ready to be unpregnified.

Yes, I just coined a new word.

I'm 37 weeks today and therefore officially made it to term! I'm so glad to not have to worry anymore when I have contractions that take my breath away!

So unless little Tessa decides to surprise us sooner we will be having a baby in exactly two weeks from today!

Catching up

Here I am playing catch up again!

Time is just flying by so quickly lately, and I feel as though I've been ridiculously busy- but I can't really pinpoint with what. I suppose it's just daily life with four children, school and activities.

Baby girl is growing- and has already been giving us a little excitement. Several weeks ago my normally frequent contractions became too consistent and the baby dropped. Since then I've been sent to L&D twice, where they've used the medication Terbutaline to slow down the contractions. I'm supposed to be on restricted activity at this point- until 35 weeks when labor can safely begin. I still have contractions round the clock, and it's extremely uncomfortable (and annoying, to say the least). It's been rough trying to take it easy while keeping up on the everyone's needs- but I've had lots of help with meals and that has been wonderful. We are truly blessed with some amazing friends and family who are always there for us.

Only two more weeks until I reach that 35 week mark! ( At which point *I* am certain that little Tessa will decided to get nice and comfy and stay put for another four weeks.)

Lilah turned 2 last Sunday, and we can hardly believe it! It really seems like yesterday that she was born- and here we are about to have another baby! She's such a sweet girlie, talking and growing like crazy. We just love her so much- even if she has seemed to lose her ability to sleep suddenly....

Jaxson started taking guitar lessons four weeks ago. Before we let him begin lessons, we made certain he understood that he wouldn't be allowed to quit when lessons got hard and that he'd have to buckle down and commit to learning. We had him pay for half of the cost of his guitar, so that he would understand it was a commitment. A month later, we are all absolutely amazed at how well he's doing and how quickly he's picking it up! His teacher says he's never had a kid learn as quickly as Jaxson is learning. But most importantly, he's really working hard at it and we're so proud of him.

I finally decided it was time to download the photos that have been sitting on my camera for the last 4 months.... but haven't had the time to resize them and organize them. So I'll leave you with the few I have of Lilah on her birthday!

Miscellany

There is really nothing going on here that is terribly exciting. So this will be a post of the miscellaneous non-events that make up my lovely life. And I do mean that. I love my life. (Most of the time. There are obviously moments.) I am so blessed to be able to stay home with the children, and I love that.

Non-event #1:

Lilah has decided to start waking up at night and scream bloody murder until we put her in our bed. And I do mean bloody murder. "MOM!!!!!!! MOM!!!!!!! DAD!!!!!!". It's lovely. And we have less than three months to break her of this habit before the baby makes her appearance. Great.

Non-event #2:

We started school back up last week after a long Christmas vacation. It felt great to get back on schedule. I love doing school year around and being able to take long vacations when we need them!

Non-event #3:

Vance is, at this very moment, walking around the house pretending to talk on a banana phone. He is very serious about it. Oh, wait. Now he is eating his phone.

Non-event #4:

I am turning 31 in a few weeks. My mother told me the other day that she is going to give me a book about menopause. Thanks, mom. I'm not THAT old yet.

I am definitely feeling the difference being pregnant in my thirties vs. my twenties. I am tired. This may also have something to do with this being our 5th child.

Non-event #5:

I am promising myself today (for probably the 25th time in the last month) that I will go through photos that are on the computer and/or stuck in my camera and upload them to Facebook and Costco. It most likely won't get done. I still have a huge pile of photos that I printed for photo albums about 10 months ago..... sitting on the bookshelf.... waiting to be placed in said photo albums.

But I have very good intentions!