Parents in Town

My dear dad flew into town a day before Eli was supposed to come. So we had both Grandma and Papa here for a whole week (after Granma was here 5 days).  They stayed in a near-by hotel but the twins were sad to see them leave each night. It was truly a special treat to have them here with us. 
The week went by really fast.  Each day Grandma and Papa took the twins on some adventure.   They would come home for naps and then we would prepare a nice dinner for us.  The dinners were awesome!!!  Then we all put the twins to bed and enjoyed an evening together.

One day we all went to Eagle Lake Park.  Another day my parents took the twins to the Tampa Zoo.  There were other adventures to Largo Park, the animal store, chick-fill-a, the 4-story-high-yellow-slide, the hotel swimming pool, and the beach.  At the beach, Eli got to put his feet in the water.  It was the only time he cried!! 

The weather was perfect and the week went by really fast.  I sure do love my parents, and am thankful for their visit.

Baby Eli's first time touching the ocean.

 

Here is Papa giving Eli his first bath.  And Grandma giving Eli lots of loves.  We sure do love our wonderful Grandparents.

Mommy in town

My dear mother came into town the night I got home from the hospital.  It was nice to have her here for my first week home.  Mommy did a great job of cooking for us and keeping our home clean.  But what I appreciated the most was that she kept the twins occupied!!!  She gave then a Christmas present every morning, she read with them each night, and she played with them throughout the day.  The twins really grew to love their Grandma.     

I sure do love my mommy.   Being a mother truly helps me appreciate my mother.  She did a wonderful job raising us 7 kids.   I hope to be just as good as she was. 

 

Mom also went to my baby shower with me.  Jefra and Jodi were kind enough to put on a "diaper and wipes" shower for Liz and I.  It was a special treat to take my mom and another special treat to take Eil to his own shower.

 

Birth of Eli Part 2

Eli is born at 35 weeks 5 days and weighs 6 lbs 3 oz.  After the surgery he is taken to the nursery and they find him healthy and happy.  He is brought to me in the recovery room to nurse.  He does great and therefore get to stay with mommy.  My baby boy is healthy!!  I am so happy!  I will get to take Eil home with me.  This is the best news ever.

 

Elisabeth,and I go back to my room.  Eli goes to get his first bath.  I am dizzy.  I feel like sleeping.  The walls are turning.  They had to give me more medication during the operation then expected.  But I know I can sleep it off and that my baby will be coming home with me.

 

My sweet neighbors, Kacie and Sara, bring the twins by to see Eli and me.  Savannah's first questions is, "Mommy where is your tummy?".  They are interested in my tummy band-aid, my socks, and my hospital gown.  They don't stay long.  I can't keep my eyes open.  So they go to the nursery and get to see brother for the first time.

 

I then say good-bye to everyone and sleep.  But you really don't sleep in hospitals because there is a nurse in your room every 3 hours.  And now I have a little baby to nurse every 2 hours.  But Eli and I make it through the night.  We bond together.    

 

 

Saturday comes and I am feeling better.  Eli is a wonderful baby, I love him already.  I could hold him all day.  Together Eli and I are excited to see our family.  The twins are now with our adapted Grandparents (Bob and Becky).  They will come visit us after picking up Leif from the airport. 

 

At 6:00 p.m there is a knock on our door.  Leif walks in with the twins.  Micah and Savannah are both so so excited to see baby Eli in "real life".  Savannah asks to see his feet, his hands, his legs, and his tummy.  She comments that he can't walk or crawl.  Micah is all smiles and want to hold Eli.  Both kids brought Eli a present from the store (Becky let them each pick one out).  And they want Eli to "play" with his toys.

 

Leif is natural holding Eli.  Eli looks just like his Dad.  It is good to finally see my husband.  All the worries and tears from the day before are forever gone.  We have only been a family of 5 for less then a day, but it feels right.  I love my family. 

 

 Sunday is a special day.  Leif come to the hospital and spends the day with just Eli and I.  We get to enjoy our new son together.  It is a precious time.  We look at the little miracle we created and fall in love with him.  The day goes by fast. 

Monday we take our baby home from the hospital.  We love our little son. We love our little family. 

Birth of Eli Part 1

It is Thursday, November 7th, 2013. Leif is out of town doing interviews in Idaho.  I have hit my 35 week mark and am feeling great.  The C-section is scheduled for November 18th, so I still have one week to get ready.  My parents are coming into town to help out with the delivery and to watch the twins.  I am feeling great and am excite to finally have a "normal delivery". 

 

Since Leif is out of town, I plan a "girls night" to make picture boards.  All the girls stay till around 11:00 p.m.  After they leave, I decide to clean my house and read till late.  Micah comes in my room, so I stop reading and we fall asleep together.  At 3:00 a.m my sleep is awoken.  It is awoken by a gush of water running down my leg!!

 

  I try to tell myself it is just a lot of pee. But I know the truth.  I call Leif, but what can he do all the way across the United States?  He tells me to go to the hospital, and that he loves me.  I pack a bag and head out the front door.  Then I remember that I have 2 babies inside.  But it's 3 a.m.!!! I call my single neighbors.  They don't answers.  I climb the stairs and bang on their door.   They come and very willing to watch the twins through the night and into the next day.  They offer to drive me, but since I still haven't had a single contraction I drive myself to the hospital.

 

Yes, that is right... I drive myself to the hospital.  I check myself in.  They monitor the baby and put me on IV's.  I am told that I will have a C-Section the next morning at 9:30, and to get some rest.  Everything is happening too fast.  I cry.  I don't want to do this alone.  I want my husband next to me.  It wasn't supposed to be this way.  This was going to be my "normal delivery." 

 

A sweet nurse comes in and sees me crying.  She puts her hand on my leg and tells me that the doctors and nurses will look after me. Her words are comforting, but I still feel alone.  The nurse then tells me to call a friend.  I take her advice.

 

In the morning I call some friends.  Word gets around fast and soon there is a knock at my door.  My good friend Jefra came to keep me company.  The C-Section time is changed to 3:00, and Jefra's visit keeps my mind off the surgery. Another friend, Elisabeth, comes around 2.  Elisabeth goes with me into the operation room and holds my hand.  Her presents gives me comfort.  She is there for the birth of my son.  Eli Paul Kanooth comes into this world at 3:30 p.m. 

 

Eli P. Kanooth

34 Weeks

 I am 34.5 weeks pregnant!!!  Which means that I am the most pregnant I have ever been.
The twins were born right at 32 weeks so I feel full-term.  But I know the truth.  This little guy needs to stay in as long as possible.  Truth be told, I feel great.  Yes, I get tired.  I pee all throughout the night.  I can't bend down and pick up toys anymore. I have to nap each afternoon.  But I do feel great. 

Yesterday the Dr. office called me to schedule the C-Section.  They want to deliver me right at 37 weeks!!  I had to say yes. SO....this little man is coming into the world on Monday, November 18th at 7:30 a.m. 

By then I will be considered full-term, but it feel too soon.  Now my mind keeps racing about the one million things I have to do before the baby comes.  But I don't really know what there is to do. 

His clothes are washed and in the dresser.
There are new diapers and wipes in the changing table.
The car-seat fits in the car (just not in there yet).
I made Eli his first baby blanket and an E with his name on it.
The twins have shirts that say "Big Brother/Sister".
We made a count-down chain for baby's arrival.
My parents are coming down for the week to watch the twins.
Leif already took the time off of work.
What else?????

I am sure I will think about it all night and probably bake a couple dozen cookies tomorrow.

Halloween 2013

Halloween 2013 was full, full, full.  This is our 3rd Halloween here in Florida so we knew all the good Pre-Halloween events to go to.  Our candy income started 2 weeks before Halloween when the twins trick-or-treated at Largo Mall.  The next week we trunk-or-treated at our ward party and went to the City of Bellair's Halloween night.  The week of Halloween we trunk-or-treated at Chick F' Lit and the library.  Then on Halloween we got to go trick-or-treat once again.  

The import of candy into our house was..... LOTS.  With me still being pregnant and Leif not good about self-control a lot of the candy was hidden.  A lot of the candy was put into the freezer and a lot of the candy found its way to the garbage can.  BUT getting the candy was a pure blast for the twins.  They sure were careful about what type they picked.  They knew Daddy liked the blue Almond Joys and Mommy liked the orange Resses.  And they are still little enough that they picked our favorite candies to please us!!! They loved being pumpkins and they loved helping me decorate the house/door for Halloween.   

 

Happy Halloween from our little Pumpkin Patch