Yes, I know the point of  blog is to keep everything up to date, share information, especially about life altering events.  So it's taken me a week. Sorry about that! But anyone who reads this probably already knows that Abigail Elizabeth was born last week, April 21. She was 7 pounds, 14 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long.

I have to say, it was strange to know exactly WHEN she was coming, and very hard to sleep for 2 nights before the  big event. But it was a great day. I was ready, things went sm

oothly, and the only "kink" in the flow of the day was having my spinal anesthesia done twice, as the first one didn't "take" as strongly or as quickly as it should have. (Luckily, they did a few test pokes before cutting, and we realized quickly I'd need more before the real fun could begin!)  But from then on everything was smooth sailing. Once my legs came back to life I was up walking in my room by 4pm, surprising most of the nurses. But really, if you had been in that bed for all that time, you'd be jumping at the chance to get out of bed too!

Maggie and Katherine were instantly in love with their sister. They  were anxious to hold her and were annoyed that the grandparents felt that they were entitled to a  few snuggles as well!  Poor Katherine was surprised to be scolded for poking Abby in the eyes, "I was just trying to open them!" She thought she was helping!  Both girls are still adjusting to HOW

 MUCH they can love the baby - even a week later. They need frequent reminders not to smother her with love and kisses, I guess it's a good problem to have!

We were discharged on Friday and happily came home on the first 80 degree day of the season. (Funny that it was SNOWING while Abby was being delivered!)  Maggie and Katherine were excited to show me that while I had been in the hospital, they had put the swing, the bouncy seat, and the play mat in the family room for Abby to play with. Maggie was especially concerned with "what will Abby want to do first?" Again, the concept of a newborn, who does nothing but eat and sleep, was lost on her. She was positive that Abby would choose her favorite toy once she

 got home.

Now that we're home we've been settling into new routines. Abby just goes along with whatever we're doing. She seems fine sleeping through whatever chaos the girls are causing. And she's been sleeping well at night too. (I KNOW I just jinxed myself with THAT!)  Maggie and Katherine are eager to help. Both will RUN to get supplies for a diaper change, and Maggie especially knows exactly what I'll need during feeding and is happy to help - almost to the point of being TOO helpful. I'm feeling great. I know I'm still supposed to be resting - and I am. And I've only had 2 trips out of the house in a week. But I feel better every day and more able to DO things- even simple things like playing games with the bigger girls - it's nice to be able to get up and down from the floor so I can play with them! It's been quite a week, and I can't believe how fast it's flying by!   Here is Abby at One Week old (oh, and 7 pounds 4 ounces now - which is actually an increase from her discharge weight - so she's doing very well!)

Wow, I guess I'm a slacker with this blog! It's been more than 2 weeks! OOPS!

Busy times around here though - we're now only 5 days from Baby's arrival and we've been busy getting ready. Add in Holy Week and Easter and Spring break - who has time for blog updates?

The girls loved everything about Easter. They even made it through a 2 hour Holy Thursday mass with minimal frustration.  It helped that they had trumpets and trombones to admire - not part of the usual music at Sunday Mass!  Obviously it was a crazy week for Chris - and we all breathed a sigh of relief that baby cooperated and didn't try to interrupt the busy week!

The Easter Bunny brought puzzles, coloring books, chalk and bubbles. And of course, there were eggs to find.    He also left a note, responding to Maggie's note she left for the bunny to find. Maggie noticed right away that the Easter Bunny used the same wording/phrasing that Santa used in his note. Good thing she hasn't recognized handwriting yet.  Daddy is going to have to work on that before the next holiday!The first day of spring break we went back to the Mitchell Domes to enjoy free admission!  It's always refreshing to spend time surrounded by flowers and tropical climate - esp on a cold, grey day.  And it gave us a chance to get one more Mommy and Girls picture before #3 arrives!

And speaking on #3.....My doctor appointment this week was not quite as stellar as my previous appointments have been. I managed to make it farther with this pregnancy than with the other 2, however, my blood pressure was up and I was put on "restrictions" until I deliver on Tuesday.  Nothing major - I was advised to "be a princess" until Tuesday.  Luckily Chris is still on break - so he's able to do the hard stuff, and I'm trying my best to take it easy.  He took the girls to the zoo today to enjoy the 60 degree weather. I stayed home. He raked in the yard and hauled leaves this afternoon. I sat on a lawn chair and supervised. He's been a cleaning maniac for the last few days- making sure everything is perfect before baby arrives and who knows WHEN we'll have time for deep cleaning again.  I'm so lucky to have such an amazing husband!

And so there you are. We're going to relax through the weekend enjoying nicer weather and resting up! Surgery is scheduled for 0730 on Tuesday. We're all very excited to meet the newest Sepersky!

A collection of random thoughts and and events from the last week.  Not sure I can make them all flow logically. So just enjoy! 

Here we have Maggie and Katherine last week Thursday. I forced them outside after naps to enjoy the sunshine while it lasted. I knew we were in for a cold, wet weekend. They loved riding bikes and taking their dolls for walks in their play strollers.  Luckily, their speed (needing to stop and check their babies frequently) matches my pregnant walking speed.  None of us will win any races anytime soon!

I was right about the weekend forecast. It was cold, grey, rainy and then SNOWY. We received almost 6 inches of snow. Most has melted already - but it confused Maggie once again - she is not willing to accept that although it is SPRING it can still be SNOWY and COLD! Someday she'll figure it out!

On Sunday, the girls and I opted out of church. I just couldn't handle the thought of driving through the mess of snowy un-plowed roads, to then climb over snowbanks with both girls just to get to Mass.  Instead, we stayed home being fairly lazy. However, Baby felt the need to cause some drama. For almost 4 hours on Sunday morning,  I could not get her to move.   I ate, drank, poked, rested, moved, ate more, drank more (even coffee) and poked some more.  she would NOT respond.  She had not moved at all since I had woken up that morning. The longer it lasted, the more worried I became. I eventually called Chris at church, and asked him to come home so I could go to the hospital to be checked.

(side note of history. Katherine's birth was unexpectedly dramatic when her heart rate dropped significantly. On delivery,  the Doctor found out that the reason was  a true knot in her cord - which was getting tighter and tighter.  Even the doctor was shaken by the thought that, if not for being monitored at the time, she might have tightened that knot completely and died.  This is what was racing through my mind the longer #3 wasn't moving.)

So, I went to the hospital, and they hooked me up to a monitor. It took an extra 45 seconds longer than usual to find the heart rate, but it was there. However, she really was NOT active for a long time. The nurses agreed that I did the right thing by coming in, because even  they were surprised that her heart rate, while present, was not accelerating and changing as much as normal for the first 20-30 minutes that I was there.   Eventually she perked up and actually since then, it has been near constant movements and kicks.  I was very glad to have those 2 hours in Labor and Delivery though - it definitely put my mind at ease! I had my 36 week check up yesterday and everything continues to go well. My blood pressure was slightly higher than it had been, but nothing to be concerned about. We're still on track for April 21!

Probably the most exciting event of the week though - for all of us - was the purchase of a REAL PIANO!  Chris and I have dreamed of owning a piano for the 10 years we've been married. Finally this house had the space; it was a matter of finding the right piano, the right time, and the right price. The stars aligned last week when we found this Kawai at a used piano sale. It has been lovingly cared for by Chris' piano tuner, and is in excellent condition.   

Coincidentally, Maggie essentially taught herself how to play "Twinkle Twinkle" on her mini electric keyboard last week. It was just the push we needed to agree that now was the perfect time to buy the piano - seeing that she is so interested in playing actual songs.  It took her about 10 minutes yesterday after the piano was delivered to transfer her knowledge to her "real piano."  

Chris wasn't home when it was delivered, due to parent/teacher conferences he didn't get home until about 8pm. So the girls were allowed to stay up late waiting for Daddy.  You can imagine the thrill of having Daddy come home and play fancy music (as well as a collection of familiar tunes.)  They danced wildly around the living room while he played and I think we all shared a night we'll remember for a long time!

A few other funny stories from the week.  On a grey, rainy day maybe 2 weeks ago, the girls were lamenting the lack of sunshine. I suggested that if they sang songs about the sun, the sun might hear them and come out.  Of course they started singing all the sunshine songs they could think of, and the next day I was proven right, the sun came out and they though it was magic! Yesterday, as we drove to the sitter, Maggie sighed dramatically from the backseat and announced, "Perhaps I should sing more songs about the sun, so he will come out again!" I chuckled at her vocabulary and said simply,"Perhaps, Maggie." She answered with, "yes, perhaps I will." And the songs began. Luckily - the sun is out today. Thank you Mr Sunshine!

Katherine's independence caused a funny moment last week. She ran through the kitchen to the bathroom saying to me "I'm going potty Mommy and I don't need ANY help!"  Of course, I know well enough that she would need SOME help. I gave her about 2 minutes and called, "How's it going Katherine?" she replied, "Um, Actually, Not so good!" I went in to find that she had been so excited to be independent, and the need had been so urgent, that she had neglected to take off her undies, and had halfway missed the toilet. I found her standing using the hand towel to try and clean up the mess she had made. It was so funny that I couldn't even be mad about the mess!

And I think that brings us up to speed.  I need to sit and do this more often so the stories are more current and logical.   Perhaps I'll work on that!