happy anniversary!

8 years ago today Jeff and I got married...then we had heather...then moved to MS...then charlie...then Jeff went to kuwait...then cameron...then the Azores--whew!! It's been a busy 8 years!! We went out to dinner last night which was Jeff's birthday also to celebrate b/c he has a class tonight and my mom left today for Galveston for a few days to help out my grandma. Things are pretty good at her house but mom still wanted to go and help out. So far the morning was good--of course I had Jeff and mom to get heather to the bus and help with the other two while I got her ready for school! Cameron is sleeping and charlie is playing a game with me (in a minute). The first two weeks with cameron (and help) have been great and I feel pretty much back to normal with an outside appendage (who actually sleeps in his bed or swing or car seat for periods of time) instead of an interior one. He's sleeping pretty well at night and so far I really can't complain.

almost two weeks old!!

Cameron will be two weeks old tomorrow and it's still hard to believe he's here. Tomorrow is Jeff's birthday--and Cameron's due date so I should be ready to go into labor...I neglected to mention his first week dr's apt last week. He was 8 lbs 2 oz when we left teh hospital and he was up to 8 lbs 12 oz (with clothes and a diaper) at the dr's. He also measured 20 inches (what he shrunk an inch?!) with the nurse explain that they measure differently than the do in teh hospital--Okay whatever!! We had a nice weekend with grandma still here. Yesterday we went to the park for lunch and then to Lowe's to do a build it workshop with the kids where they made firetrucks. Today we took it easy, just doing fun things together--heather and Jeff built a raft for school (something that would float, fly, or drive). After dinner we went to the park to take some family pictures to see if we could capture all of us nicely. It's hard to position a two week old but we did get some nice pics. I should be able to get some up on the blog soon.

week 1..bleated

With 3 kids now I guess I won't be as good at updating my blog...sorry to any "loyal" readers ;-). Maybe once our laptop is fixed I'll get a little better...Mom got here on Sunday so the kids have been enjoying the extra attention from grandma. Jeff is back to work and may take a few days off next week depending on his schedule. Cameron and I are still doing great. I'm less tired and he's doing a good job of sleeping for at least 1 three hour stretch each night and pretty much just eating and going back to sleep. He is quite alert for several hours during the day but seems to be getting in the habit of needing to eat to fall asleep (not good). Heather and Charlie still want to be with him all the time and touch, hug, and kiss. Heather said that we could have another baby because she liked Cameron so even a boy would be OK. Charlie said that he would like a new baby for his birthday and I said WAIT--let's see how this one goes ;-). Week 1 (with help) has gone pretty well!

birth story part two: siblings

Heather and Charlie came to visit Monday night (i had the baby that afternoon). They came in the room cautiously, not sure what to make of mom in a wierd bed with an IV in her arm. Cameron was wrapped up pretty well so I don't think they even noticed him right away. I showed him to them but Heather was kind of caught up in the IV and did it hurt...They came around the bed and peeked at him, slowly pokeing and finally hugging him. He of course was just zonked out. They each took a turn holding him and seemed OK with it but still pretty cautious. Heather had a little meltdown on the way out since I didn't come with them, but other than that handled a surprise pick up at the bus stop by someone else, trip to a friends house for dinner and then returning there for the night much better than I expected her to.

Jeff spent the night in the hospital (Every husband should "enjoy" the couch in support of their new child) then went to get the kids off to school and to come visit with Charlie. Various friends (who helped out a TON) came to visit and Heather got to come back after school. This time she was VERY protective and said to Jeff on the way that she didn't know if she was going to like the baby before he was born but now she really liked him. Good turn around for her but she was not wanting her friend to touch him, hold him, do anything--it was HER brother not Mirabelle's ;-). AFter a slight attitude adjustment we all said good night and they headed home.

Since we've been home the kids want to hug, touch, and love on the baby ALL the time. Luckily Cameron seems to be able to sleep through thier "gentle" embraces and touch or ignore them pokeing their face into his when he's trying to nurse. Charlie thinks the baby sleeps too much and Heather was plugging her ears or sighing "can't you do anything?" when he cried--which has really only been when he's hungry or is getting his diaper changed--he HATES that! He's a good eater, pooper, and is starting to sleep a bit more independently (ie--not with mom or dad holding him) but it's so nice to hold a snuggly baby--and they don't stay that way for long!

I have to say thanks to our friends who helped out with the kids, brought dinner, is organizing others to bring meals for us,l sent e-mails or phone calls of support and are stopping by to keep us company. It's sad to be far from most of you and Cameron can't wait to meet you. More pictures when I get a chance!!

Cameron Scott Hughes

More details to come because I thought pictures would tell a better story. Cameron was born Monday afternoon at 4:19 after I was induced around 10:15 in the morning. I had a really easy labor--partially b/c I was too chicken not to try without an epidural--if you want more details I'll share but otherwise I'd like to keep my friends so I won't share them now ;-). I was induced 2 weeks early but he was still 8 lbs, 13 oz and 21 1/4 inches long so he was no small baby. He is healthy, eating, sleeping and pooping well. I'm feeling fine and am just waiting for the crash to come after being off to such a good start. I'll share more about the kids reactions and coming home tomorrow...everything is going really well and we're happy to be home and a family of (gulp) 5!!

charlie's first day of preschool

Charlie got to start school in the "3 year old class" today. Despite saying yesterday that he didn't want to go to school he was happy to get some first day of school clothes out, his "supplies" together, and shoes on to get going in the morning. We got to his school about 15 minutes early and took a few pics, stowed his supplies, and waited for Ms. Willie to ring the bell. Charlie went happily to his class and I had to ask for a hug and kiss (the routine I tried to set with both kids from the "little kids" class on) which he willingly gave to me and Jeff. He got back in the car at the end of the day proclaiming that they had made raccoons and that his class was really fun! I took him to McDonald's for a treat with his best buddy and classmate Mirabelle.

What did Sara do with her time? The consignment sale that I usually stock up on clothes at is this week so I did a little bit of shopping and a lot more working. Unfortunately that's what I'm doing with all three of my mornings this week so that puts me down to probably a maximum of 3 mornings "free" before this baby comes.

getting closer...

Yesterday got better as the day went along starting with a lot of resting and watching TV. Heather had a fever and just chilled on the couch. Charlie stated out with a lot of energy and then depleted as his poor nose got runnier and runnier. I think both will take it easy today but will be feeling better as they get food and tylenol to boost them up!

In addition to cartoons we watched Ohio University not get killed by Ohio State and without a few errors and big plays may have pulled out the game. They did great despite the ESPN highlights showing only OSU doing anything they were in the game until the 4th quarter (Winning even!!).

I got to escape for the afternoon to a baby shower that my friends had planned despite my lack of help in what we needed, who to invite...Amy's house was decorated with balloons tied to toys and she and Heather had so many tasty treats we couldn't eat it all (luckily for me she was sharing at the end and sent some home with me ;-) they had games--that did not make fun of how big I am or how baby food tastes or looks--and got us set up with the "essentials" so I don't have to do that last minutue shopping trip that I thought I was going to have to do. The company was great--it's so nice just to sit around with friends and not have to be interrupted with kids needs every minute. The group was fun and I really appreciate that they all took time out of a saturday afternoon to "celebrate" with me. It made me sad that we will be leaving soon and we'll all have to start over with friends again. I suppose I should just look at it as adding more friends to my "list" but I know I will really miss these girls and their families. After the shower "ended" we sat around and talked more which was really nice, I don't know when we would have left had her husband and family not come home...Thanks to all husbands who took care of kids as well as my GREAT friends who hosted an awesome afternoon.

I brought pizza home for dinner and we hung out for a bit, I was exhasted and Jeff told me to go to bed (I think it was before 9!) which I said, OK and did.

school, sick, and shower

Yesterday I got the chance to go to school with Heather fora few hours which was really neat. Her teacher and her aid are really nice and definitely overworked as there are 30 kids in her class. The school is getting 1-2 new teachers to divide up the kidnergartens and it can't come soon enough for the teachers! The kids were doing worksheet/station time when I came in so I helped with that then went to lunch which was entertaining. The kids are actually pretty good but I still couldn't be a teacher!! I met Heathers friends Dixie and Sage--could she get more southern sounding names?! After lunch the kids did show and tell and it was fun to see how proud they were of their yellow car, rectangle picture, or item that started with G!

I brought Heather home early since I was going to pick her up early and she was just going to miss nap and getting ready for dismissal. She said that she didn't feel good on the way home. After making brownies for a friend's game night and kids movie night and setting dinner on teh table Heather decided it was time to demonstrate that she was really not feeling well and threw up :-) She then started to get frantic b/c we weren't going to be able to go to her friend's house. She continued to be lethargic all evening and couldn't keep anything down (TMI?). At 2:30 AM she proclaimed that she was glad we didn't go to her friends house and that "I didn't know I was going to throw up 5 times!!" She's spent the morning so far lying on the couch sipping water and juice slowly and so far so good. Charlie seems to have picked up a runny nose--perfect!!

On a more fun note a few of my friends are throwing a baby shower today which will be a nice change of pace from the sickness of the day--hopefully I'll be able to stay awake!!

falling into routine

I guess we're kind of falling into routines so things don't seem as exciting right at the moment. Heather has gotten the hang of school although every day brings something new that she's done or gets to do. She still seems to like it pretty well. We really enjoyed teh long weekend--well having Heather home all day--Jeff actually worked about 3-5 hours each day on hurricane evacuee stuff from people who had come up here or just planning, etc. We didn't get a drop of rain until today and I would barely say that it rained today. Charlie and i went to MOPS yesterday and we both loved the time with our friends. I'm sad I may not make it to another meeting--we'll just have to see how it goes.

Today the doctor said that I was 3 1/2 cm dilated and 80% effaced and was gearing up to go. I go back in a bit morethan a week and we'll see what he says then. I anticipate a "let's go next week" making the date probably in teh low 20's to get induced. Fun, fun!! The kids are ready and ask all the time when the baby is coming. We still have a lot to do but we're getting closer to being "ready". Mostly the kids can't wait for grandma's and aunt Kelly to come in to help out after we have the baby...