Going Home

Miss Clara's Vaccumed head. She was so sensitive on top of her head there. She didn't even want to wear her little hat in the hospital. They also had to give some tylenol for it.

Clara in her going home outfit. The nurses loved it! I had to show her off to all of them.

She was such a peanut in her carseat. Daddy had to put it on the tighest setting it would go and even then it was a wee bit lose on her. When we put the carseat cover on top you couldn't even see her in there.

Since it's winter, Daddy stuck this sign in a snow bank to communicate her birth to all the neighborhood.

We even had a banner inside, too!

First Visitors

After her birth at 6:31 am. Clara's first visitors were her siblings. Laken of course
jumped on the chance to hold her. She loved her name, too, as Clara is the star of the Nutcracker and Laken has a Nutcracker movie she loves.

The kids all sporting big brother and big sister shirts. Clara gave them each a "thanks for being my sibling" gift.

Gammy, Grandpa and Mike were the next to arrive!

Nama and Grandpa managed to bring me my favorite flowers...Gerbera Daisies. Brad brought me a candle that says, "You light up my life" and a coupon book he made for things such as a car wash, foot massage, hours to myself, etc.

Nama and Grandpa with Clara and I.

Uncle Mike in this picture. The boys were probably most excited to see him!

Mike stayed in the corner. Of course, the boys were probably most excited to see him!

Clara Lillian

Saturday, January 2, 2010 Braeden had a hockey game at home. My parents were in attendance and after they left. I told Brad that I needed to go to bed as I wasn't feeling so hot. I, also, told him that I'd be surprised if we made it to our scheduled Dr. appt. on Monday the 4th. I woke up at about 12:30 am and decided to go to downstairs to see if the contractions I was having were the real deal. At about 1 am I decided to hop in the bathtub. This activity woke up Brad who immediately started timing my contractions. The were already 5 min. apart. We called our neigbor Mike over to stay with the kids and headed out to the hospital. The temp. gauge on the car themometer read -24 degrees. On the way there I told Brad I didn't why I was thinking I could give birth naturally. My contractions were coming fast and furious.

When I arrived around between 2:30 and 3:00 am I was dilated 4 cm. They tried called my Dr. only to discover she was in cities and would not make the birth. We then had them called in the boys' family Doctor, Dr. Jason. It was an entire long hour before the anesthesiologist and Dr. arrived. I opted to go with an interthecial for pain and was an 8 when I got that sometime between 4 and 5. My labor, as always, stalled out once I was fully dilated. The entire staff in the room couldn't believe it would happen this time, but it did. So, pitocin was given.

I, then, pushed for a really long hour only to break many blood vessels in my face and eyes. I was faced with the option of vacuum or c-section, as baby's heart rate was too high for too long. We opted for the vacuum. Dr. Jason said he would put the vacuum on baby's head 3 times and if it popped off I would need a c-section. It took one try and some very painful pushing (due to the vacuum).
Everyone in the room exclaimed, "That's why!" She was sunny side up.

Dr. Jason said, "What is it Dad? (I was clueless)" Brad said, "It's a girl!" She was born at 6:31 am on January 3, 2010.

Clara, moments after being born.

Clara weighed 7 lbs 2 ounces. Everyone in the room figured she would be bigger than that.

Notice the vial of fluid they sucked out of her lungs. Because of this they had to wisk her away to the nursery to do a chest x-ray and place her on oxygen.

Me kissing her goodbye before they took her to the nursery.

Clara in the isolette with oxygen and humidity.

Me holding her for the first time. We still didn't have her named at this point. We decided we would go with a family name for her. Clara...named after great-grandma's and Lillian my Granny Hinckley's middle name.

Once she was able to come out of oxygen they finished her measurements. She was 20 inches long.

Clara gets her first sponge bath in the nursery.

Gammy & Grandpa Christmas

The day after Christmas we celebrated the holiday at Gammy & Grandpa Meier's house. Aunt Amy and Uncle Aaron and new cousin Lexi were there from Utah. Aunt Chrissy and soon to be uncle Ben were also there from Seattle, WA.

It was great to have the entire family there to celebrate. It was a traditional Christmas with the grandkids getting spoiled with gifts, great food and a lot of fun.

Great job Gammy & Grandpa Dick!

Christmas at Gammy & Grandpa's

Christmas Eve/Day

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve just our family. We attended 5:00 church and received a family blessing. Then, came home and feasted on Steak, Salad, green beans, twice baked potatoes and french silk pie for dessert. We all opened Brand new pj's and played our new board game--Star Wars Guess Who.

Christmas Day the kids actually slept in until 7:30 am. They were so excited to open their gifts and it was so relaxing to enjoy everything about the day and not feel rushed to get somewhere else on time. The got to play with everything until their hearts content. We even went outside to shovel and make a snowman. Then, my parents, Ross, Riley and Calia surprised us with a visit and they decided to stay at the Holiday Inn in town. So, later that evening we trekked over their for some pool time and supper. The kids had a blast spending time with their cousins. Braeden even decided to go down the waterslides and loved them!! Nama and Grandpa even went down them, too! The kids all spent the night at the hotel with their cousins. What fun memories for them!

Craft your own Christmas

We celebrated the Hinckley Christmas on December 23. The weather was a little sketchy, but everyone made it. The joke of the night was that Eric and Ross could navigate me to the hospital if I went into labor. For Christmas everyone was required to make their own gifts this year. It was some work crafting and even coming up with ideas for each person, but in the end it was way more fun and rewarding to see what everyone made. I think these gifts will be way more cherished. Of course Santa, also, had gifts for everyone, so there were some other gifts beside the crafting ones. The kids ran around all night and were so excited to have all their cousins there!

Happy 39 weeks!

I made Brad take these photos of me. Partly because I've never intentional posed for pregnancy pictures, other than some I took after the car accident I was in when I was pregnant with Pudge. Also, because I am totally cherishing these moments and wanted to document them. I had my appointment today. No news to report. No dilation, which I've never dilated before going into labor so that is nothing new. So, even if I wanted her to have stripped my membranes she would not have been able to. I go for my next appt on Monday morning. Then, hopefully an ultrasound for some time next week, too. (The nurse will call me on Monday). Are doctor will be out of town for a few days next week. So, I'm sure it will happen then. It did with Braeden. If it doesn't come there may be induction scheduled for the 1st or 2nd week in January. But, we are not to eager to mess with baby's and mother nature's timing just yet.

Last week Happenings

The backyard rink opened for business and has already gotten a ton of use. Even Pudgie is lasting longer out there this year. Mom has been regulated to tying and untying skates and Dad has been doing quite a bit of skating and, as always, is the maintenance man.

Preston decided he loves suits and ties when one night Laken and he dressed up. Now he can't wait to dress up for Christmas Eve. He even wore a shirt and tie to sing in church last Sunday. Previously ties would always gag him and he wanted nothing to do with them.

Laken had a Christmas Performance at her Dance School. Her teacher told me as we were walking it that Laken has really broken out of her shyness this year and is doing great dancing on her own. That was really comforting to hear! She did amazing, even her brothers were impressed and told her she did an awesome job and it takes a lot to impress those brothers!

Braeden's Choir Dance

Braeden's Concert with Viola Solo

Braeden had his Washington Elementary Christmas Concert. He performed in the Orchestra and was even chosen as a soloist! He was performed with his school choir and did a dance to one of the songs with a small group.

Baking and a Blizzard

One Wednesday the boys didn't have school due to blizzard condition.  Mom thought it would be a great idea to let the kids bake cut out cookies using Gammy's recipe.  Wow, do those cookies take an enourmous amount of patience, but they enjoyed themselves so it was all worth it.

Of course, our neighborhood family, Nolan and Leone are never far from the action.

I made Preston set aside a couple of the cookies the other day to save for Santa.  They have pretty much devoured their creations.

The boys decided the blizzard made for a great time to dig a snow tunnel.

I think Brae and Nolan thought they could "snowplow" with their "vehicles".

Star of the Game

After the Christmas program we all headed over to the hockey rink to watch Braeden take on Waseca.  Again, what a treat for him to have all his Grandparents there watching.  The ended up losing, but Braeden was named Star of the Game and got to bring home the "bulldog trophy" until the next game.  He was the first guy on the team to be honored with the award. 

Church Christmas Program

Preston and Laken performed their Christmas Program at Church.  It was fun to perform for their Grandparents.  I think they love that they are all able to be there to watch them. 

It was Laken's first year of singing and she did a fantastic job.  She is in the front row in a red dress next to a boy on one side and a girl Grace (a friend of hers) in the plaid on the other side.  Her favorite part was having an "angel halo" in her hair.

I shepherd Preston's Kindergarten class and Preston had the honor of playing Joseph.  He got to pull a big donkey down the aisle.

The girl that played Mary is our neighbor and good friend, Sophia.

He said after that he loved being Joseph!

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train

We had a holiday train make a stop in Owatonna.  I couldn't believe the number of people who came out to see it.  They even had Santa there and a stage unfolded with a Band singing Christmas Songs.  It was a fun way for us to get our

Christmas Groove on!