January and February and a proud momma!

January:

So, I know my last post was about the excitement of January, and our new little one, but alas, that was not all, there was more fun to be had! Remember the part where I had Wren the day before Mae's birthday, well we couldn't let Mae's 2nd birthday sneak by without a party now could we? (Looking back we probably could have haha, but at least she can never say I forgot about her.) So, I had Wren on a Tuesday and left the hospital the next night. My parents were coming to town that Friday and we were planning on having Mae's birthday party that Saturday. I had already gotten everything ready for the party before I went into the hospital so all we had to do was bake a cake. Easy. What we weren't ready for was the sick bug that had been going around while I was busy having a baby. Unfortunately, it got to our house Saturday morning and it wasn't pretty. By the time people showed-up to celebrate Mae's birthday, she had come down with a fever. Poor little thing didn't even play or talk to anyone. She barely even had cake or wanted to open presents. She just sat with Pop and dad on the couch while her party went on without her. The fever later turned into a double ear infection and bronchitis. It was a pretty rough few nights back from the hospital, but we were hopeful it was just going to pass quickly. Then, it hit Elliot. We spent almost the entire week that my parents were here, awake all night and all day with sick kids and a newborn. Luckily, they were here to lighten our load though. I don't think I could have survived without them. We did have a good time though. In between sick kids my mom and dad took care of just about everything you can imagine, while Jace and I tried to balance the kids and new baby and ourselves. There is nothing better than parents when you have a new baby! They left and it was really hard to see them go. But, we endured and we were all feeling good and getting the hang of things for a day or two and then sick bug #2 hit us even harder. Suddenly Mae started throwing-up. There was puke and poo everywhere for about 48 hours. Then she started to feel better. Then Elliot started throwing-up. We repeated the cycle, 48 hours and we thought we would finally be in the clear. Then I started throwing-up. So, because Jace was back to his rotation, I had two toddlers taking care of me and I was taking care of a newborn. It was seriously awful. But, I am here to say we made it through January and I hope to never see a month like that again! Here are a few pictures of the "good-times" from January.

This was the morning my parents came. We just pretended it was her real birthday.

I know it's blurry but I had to catch this running hug!

Wish I had more pictures of my parents' visit. But. I was a little preoccupied with a new baby for the majority of the prime picture moments.

Gifts from Gram and Pop the night before her party. She was still feeling okay at this point.

Mae's 2nd birthday party was balloon themed. Turns out she was terrified of all the balloons haha!

Jace making his ugly camera face haha! And poor Mae, wanting nothing to so with her party.

I think she was about to call it quits at this point.

The party people!

After we put Mae to bed and everyone left, Elliot said, "I loved Mae's party!" At least someone had fun. (I'm sure it had to do with the 4 cupcakes he ate, little stinker.)

February:

After a month like January we were ready for some improvement. And luckily February got better. Jace was well into his internal medicine rotation which was proving to be a little less crazy than the last. Wren had started to get into a little better routine and the kids were doing well with another sibling. Jace's birthday is the first week in February, so we had a little celebration. I am trying so hard to remember what we did, but cannot for the life of me. All I remember is I got him a s'mores maker and he was pretty much in heaven. The next weekend came quickly and we got to celebrate Valentine's day in the company of Jace's entire family. They surprised us a few weeks before and told us that everyone, even Shayne and Chalise in California were making the trip. It was good to have family again. We got family pictures taken, blessed Wren and just really enjoyed their company. With all of us in different places we never know when we might all be in the same place again. Here are a few pictures from their trip.

Wren was not having it on her blessing day, haha!

This is the happiest she looked I think.

Awe, Uncle Quinn.

I forgot to mention the best part of January (Yes, there were a few small victories!) Mae got rid of diapers! I'm sure you are thinking, "Why, after a month like January, would you want to start potty-training?" The answer is, I didn't. Mae on the other hand became so ready she wouldn't back down. She refused to wear diapers and started wearing Elliot's Car's underwear until I got her some girl ones. She only had a few accidents the 1st day, then maybe 2 the 2nd day and by the 3rd day, she was going all by herself. I was so proud of that little woman! She is truly the most stubborn, relentless person I know. She WILL NOT give-up, even if it's in everyone's best interest (like getting dressed all by herself even if it takes much longer and we are already late for preschool...) But, in this case it paid off! She is growing up so fast!

Day 1

Day: 2

Yup, Car's unders.

Day: 3

Day: 4

I think she had just gone poo on the toilet, we were clearly very excited for her.

Checking out the snow.

We had about 50 snow days here in Ohio, this was about as close as we got to going outside for a few weeks haha!

 

Please notice Elliot is wearing pants. We don't normally make it a habit to wear no pants, only on really special occasions haha (like potty training.)

Well, that about sums things up. Hopefully I can get around to March and April soon! Luckily it's starting to warm up here and we are looking forward to playing outside and hopefully taking some pictures of our Ohio spring, which is one of things I love most about living here.

And then... came Wren.

I realize it's actually Almost April, but I just had to give little Wren a real introduction. After all that she puts up with from her older siblings, she has earned her own post. So, here's the story. 

About 4 weeks before I was due to have Wren, I started getting some extreme pelvic pain, the kind that made it difficult to put on pants and shoes, or climb the stairs. Getting into the van was really quite amusing and sleep had completely stopped. I was a waddling insomniac. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with SPD. You can look it up if you are really interested but it basically meant my pubic bone was out of line and causing inflammation that was making things really painful and could have lasting effects if I didn't take it easy. So, I tried to take it easy. As easy as a mother of 2, wife of a 3rd year medical student in his surgical rotation, young women's president and Christmas shopper (remember it was 2 weeks before Santa came) could at the time. But, it didn't really happen. So,  about 2 weeks before Wren was due I hobbled in for my appt. and my doctor, knowing how much pain I was in and fearing that I might have some long term damage, offered to induce. But, there was one condition, I had to get an amnio to make sure her lungs were developed (which he and everyone else assured me was 95% likely and that most babies lungs are developed at 38 weeks, it was just protocol.) So, I went in on my birthday (Dec. 30th) with every intention of being induced the next day if the test came back positive. We had everything lined up, babysitting, dinners, we had come to terms with a New year's Eve baby. We were so excited... then the test came back... negative. She wasn't ready... So, I had to wait for another week. I was really sad for a little bit, but it turned out to be better because Jace had a week for Christmas break and was able to help so much and get things ready. 

On January 7th ( the day before Mae's birthday, yeah we might regret that later) I went in to be induced. I hadn't been induced before so I was a little anxious to get started. We dropped the kids off at a friends very early, on the record breaking, coldest day in January and headed to the hospital. Right as we left the house the power on our street went out. Then, the power all along the way to the hospital was out. It was sort of this eery and exciting feeling. We got to the hospital and they started me right away. We were feeling blessed to be in a place with heat and electricity. Once the pitocin started things were progressing pretty well, I decided to get an epidural after a few hours and that was probably the only experience that was bad about the whole thing... Let's just say learning hospital +  new resident practicing on you + deathly fear of needles = a very bad experience, but after that it was smooth sailing. After about 5 or 6 hours I was finally a ten, right as my doctor arrived he said it was time to start pushing. I had actually fallen asleep so I was feeling a little sleepy to push (thank-you epidural) but she ended up finally coming around 1:20 that afternoon. She came out with black hair and beautiful skin. I just got to hold her for about an hour before they came in to clean her off and weigh her. It was so special. I instantly loved her so much and we still think she is pretty great.

Here are some pictures of our little Wren Renae Bullard. 

They were taken 11 days after she was born by my great friend. They couldn't be more perfect. 

 

 Here are some more, from the hospital until now. Can't believe our sweet little Wrenie is 11 weeks!

I need to take more pictures, but we truly love this baby so much around here. She is adorable and fun and starting to really know us. She is making sounds now and smiling. I don't think we could love her more... unless she slept through the night. Then I probably could!

November and December (I told you I would get around to it...)

 
November:

November feels like it was seriously so long ago, but we had a lot of fun. The festivities were in full bloom. As most Novembers go, it was spent counting down until Thanksgiving. Jace had just started his surgery rotation and what people don't tell you about the 3rd year of medical school is, I will tell you right now, it's terrible! Well, the surgery rotation specifically. Jace was pretty much never home and when he was home he was playing catch-up on notes or sleep. We were basically just surviving so it helped when he got a 2 day little break in there for Thanksgiving. And it helped even more when  Dee dee and Trev came and stayed with us that weekend. Just having my sister here made everything seem easier. We made yummy food, went to a movie and went out to dinner which was so needed and the kids got to play with Uncle Trev who is one of the most fun people in the world! It was a short trip but was worth every minute and it meant so much to us that they came to the Cleve. I realized I didn't even get one picture of their visit though. How lame of me... and typical. But, here are some cute pictures of my kids haha!

December:

This month was jam packed with things going on. Elliot's pre-school takes the kids on The Polar Express, it was seriously so magical! They sang and got hot chocolate and went to the North Pole. We got a surprise visit from Santa and he gave them a bell. And he had his first pre-school Christmas party and it was so awesome, he and Mae met Santa and got a gift. Jace got to be there which was special because he was still extremely busy with his surgery rotation. I was feeling the major strain of pregnancy and pretty much waddling everywhere and praying she would come early just to relieve some of my pain and discomfort. Jace finished his rotation on the 22nd of December and we were finally able to just relax and have some fun. Santa brought the kids bikes this year and they are obsessed! Gram and Pop got them a million books and an amazing bookshelf and Gma and Gpa Bullard got them a jumpoline, both gifts have saved us from this horrid Cleveland weather.We threw a Christmas day party and the kids loved having friends over to play with.  My birthday came and went with an amnio (we thought we were going to have a New Year's Eve baby, but her lungs weren't developed enough so we had to post-pone unducing me for a week) and a fun dinner out with our good friends. The next night we enjoyed a fun New Year's Eve at home with some friends instead in the hospital having a baby. I was a little bummed at the time but looking back I am so glad we didn't have to squeeze one more thing into that month! Here are some pictures, some of them were taken with mine and Jace's Christmas gift to each other, a new camera!

Elliot and Mae's 1st movie in the theater (dollar theater) Planes!

Us on The Polar Express

Santa!

This was his school party- so much fun!

Christmas Eve

Putting cookies by the tree.

Christmas morning! Love. this.

She would not get off this bike ALL morning, she wouldn't even eat breakfast haha!

Lovely Mae

Riding his bike

So cool!

Sledding with Dad! 

 We had some seriously fun holidays this year. We have learned that our time together is precious and some of the most simple things make the best memories. It is so fun to have kids during this magical season, they make things more exciting! We feel so blessed to have each other even though we are far from home, our holidays were really special. Now my next post should involve our new little sweetie. Hopefully soon!