Introducing...

Rachael Jane Presbury

Well she is finally here and I could never be more thrilled. I swear those last few weeks leading up to delivery are the worst, the feel like the last FOREVER (amongst the 9 months I've already experienced).

Everything from delivery to now has gone so perfectly, I couldn't have asked for more and our new little addition is simply adorable.

On the morning of March 17th, 2009 we got a call from Labor and Delivery at 6:45 a.m. calling us in for induction. We quickly got ourselves together and headed in. By around 8:00 I was in my delivery room where they were hooking me up to all the exciting equipment along with going through all the paperwork. I was still dilated 3 centimeters and 60 % effaced (same as at my appointment the Thursday before). The monitor also showed I was having regular contractions but they were not phasing me much as I had been experiencing them constantly for the last week or so.

Around 9:00 the doctor came in and broke my waters and I was dilated to a 4. By 9:30 the contractions were coming every 3 minutes and were very strong. The doctor said at that point I could easily have her by lunch time. I was so excited at this point but didn't want to get my hopes up. I have always been told that it takes awhile being induced so I was thinking... 'no way would it be that quick - I remember sitting in the delivery room for hours waiting for my son to be born after being induced. '

10:30 I had just gotten my epidural and when they checked me I was already dilated to an 8. What? I should have had them check me before the epidural... I do have to say though that this time the epidural was perfect. I had nothing to compare my son's birth to but now I do. The epidural was just enough to take away the strong pain. I could still feel all the pressure and could move my legs and body. With my son I was completely numb, could not move an inch. This time I was still experiencing the contractions and even had the urge to push. It was fantastic!!!
I was dreading the epidural experience this time because of the horrible experience with Josh but it turned out better than I could have ever expected.

Only 15 minutes later at 10:45 I was at 9 centimeters. 11:00 they called the doctor over for delivery and by 11:10 I started pushing with contractions. It was the most relaxed (as relaxed as childbirth can be) and calm as I could ever imagine. My nurses were fantastic and I just love my doctor. He is brilliant!

17 minutes of pushing and she was born. Throughout delivery she was coming down posterior so the doctor had to turn her, she also came out with the umbilical cord around her neck. The doctor was fantastic through everything though and Aaron even got to cut the umbilical cord.

Rachael Jane

Born at 11:27 a.m.

Weighing 8 lbs 7 oz

20 inches long

This experience was so great - compared to my first I would have to say it's 100 times better. Everything from the facility to the nurses and doctor were better. I loved it and my whole stay in the hospital was so nice, I felt great and still do! The most pain I have had is strangely in my tailbone. Seriously it's painful to sit on and I am convinced it's because she was posterior.

I came home on the Thursday and things have gone well here. I could never be more grateful for all the wonderful family and friends we are surrounded by. I am so grateful for everyone that has done so much to help our little growing family. Everything from taking care of josh to the fantastic meals and gifts to the wonderful congrats. I have never felt so blessed to be surrounded by such fantastic people. Thank you everyone!

Once coming home we did have to take Rachael back in for bilirubin testing a couple times but it was never anything we had to end up treating under lights. I took her in on Monday to be weighed and she was already back up to 8 lbs 5 oz. When we left the hospital she had dropped to 7lbs 11oz and in 4 days she had gained nearly her birth weight back. I was shocked because she has been spitting up so much but she is a very happy and content baby. The other thing I had checked on Monday was her eyes. From birth she has some pretty bad hemorrhaging in both eyes. Her right eye is the worst but doctor said they should go away. Other than that she is doing so well and is such a good baby.

Joshua is so thrilled to have a little sister and is always concerned about her well being. He asks questions all the time and loves to be involved. He especially loves holding her until his arms are numb. One of the days we had to take Rachael back into the hospital for a test he fell asleep in the car, when we got home he was so upset thinking we had taken her back to the hospital and left her. I had to show him that she was happy and asleep in her bed. He then got a huge smile on his face and said with a giggle 'Oh... Baby Rachael stay at Joshy's House?' He is so cute.

2 men and a little lady

Rachael Jane Presbury

Born at 11.27am

Weighed 8lbs7oz and is 20 inches long

Learning to process oxygen! Kimberly had a blast this time and enjoyed the experience, which all happened so fast. Kim is eating and feeling on top of the world. More photos to come...

Regular contractions

3 mins apart doc said could have her by lunchtime :) will let you know when she's born!

Waters are broken

Still no need for epi but kim has progressed to a 4

Still a 3

Dialated to a 3 (same as last thursday) and 60% efaced. Contractions are happening though kim is notnoticing them!

At the hospital

Kim's got the gown on and is getting hooked up while receiving the question drill-down.

Joshua turns 3!!!

Yep, another month late but two days after Christmas we celebrated Joshua's 3rd birthday. The night before we enjoyed decorating the downstairs with streamers and balloons.

The morning of his birthday we all woke up to a lot of 'wows' and 'oohs ahhs' just as on Christmas Day. Joshua is smothered in gifts and fun celebrations due to his birthday and Christmas being within 3 days of each other. It's crazy! He once again enjoyed opening gifts in mommy and daddy's bed - a tradition we have continued on from Aaron's family.


Later that afternoon we met up with some family and went bowling. We got a fantastic family package with bowling and delicious food. We all had so much fun and Josh came in second on our first game, he nearly beat us all. It was so cute to watch him pick up his 6 lb bowling ball and roll it down the lane (he used the guide of course :)).















After bowling we all headed back to our house for cake and ice cream and more gifts from grandma and grandpa. I made a delicious two layer brownie cake that Josh seemed to enjoy. I am not extremely creative but I did include a train track on it - I think he appreciated that...


We had a fantastic day and I cannot believe our little boy is already 3. Time flies by so fast and here we are awaiting the arrival of our first daughter.

Christmas a month late!

We had a different Christmas this year but enjoyed the fun we had with Joshua.

Christmas Eve was spent acting out (teaching Josh) more about the nativity and birth of Christ.
Afterwards we made some of our favorite chocolate chocolate chip cookies and set a plate out for Santa and his reindeer. Joshua also wrote out a cute letter with his daddy to put with the cookies.

We then opened one gift on Christmas Eve as it has been tradition in our families. Joshua got a really nice pair of blue polar bear pjs. He loves wearing them...

Aaron's cousin Marcus and his wife Nichole joined us this Christmas and came down on Christmas Eve.

Once Joshua was in bed Nichole helped me decorate his new room in Thomas the Train. We spent a good hour or more putting a border on his wall. It turned out so cute! We then finished off the night playing games and watching a movie.

Christmas morning Joshua woke us up around 7:30 and first thing he did was run right into his 'new room'. Christmas day we moved him over from his older 'baby' room to his new 'big boy' room. We also transferred him from his toddler bed to the bottom bunk. The first word out of his mouth when he saw the room was "WOW" he was stunned. Needless to say he loved it! He ran up to the bed and pointed out all the trains and also stood to admire the new border.

We then convinced him to go wake up Marcus and Nichole and we all headed downstairs for our wonderful gift opening.

We all got some amazing gifts. This year was so much fun with Joshua as he understood more of what gifts are and why we give them. After ever gift he opened we had to pry him from it to get him to open another one. I guess we could have just gotten him one gift then right? :)

Early afternoon my parents, brother and sister joined us for a traditional English Christmas dinner. I made a turkey, along with all the other wonderful side dishes. It was delicious and so much fun to make. Everyone was stuffed full of food and ready for a big nap afterwards, kinda felt like another Thanksgiving... We then exchanged gifts with my parents and I have to say, I was shocked when I got a new vacuum. YAY, it's what I wanted and sooo needed.
Thanks everyone for such a wonderful Christmas this year and for all the fabulous gifts.

Events before Christmas

On November 29th we celebrated Aaron's birthday with a morning of gift opening. That afternoon we surprised him with 8 tickets to the Jazz game. Before heading to the game we had dinner at my parents house with more gift opening and Cake eating. I made Aaron a delicious brownie cake. It was extremely rich in taste but oh so good. It just didn't turn out looking as great... I tried to decorate it like a soccer field. I'm sure he appreciated it :)

15th December we headed to the tumble gym for a farewell party for Jess Ben and Jack as they were moving to Denver in a couple days. Although I didn't embark on the facilities equipment I sure had fun watching Josh and Jack interact. Along with the crazy stunts Aaron and Ben were pulling.

On the 19th we helped Jess and Ben pack up their apartment and move out. A big snow storm ended up rolling in that afternoon so they spent the night with us until it was clear for them to head to Denver. Although it took them a long time to get there they did arrive safely.

This is a picture of the 'frogman' Josh and Aaron made in the snow. Their attempt to build a snowman failed as the snow was too powdery.

Final catch up...

I have been horrible at this but here I am again... Before we hit Christmas (yes only 3 days away) I have to finish off about our trip to England/France back in late September, early October.


The remainder of our time in France was spent touring Paris. We visited many places and it brought back a lot of memories of our Honeymoon and Aaron's mission. One of the evenings Josh went back to the villa with Mama, Pops, and Beth while we spent more time in the 'romantic city'. We stopped by a little place before heading back and had yummy chicken kabobs. MMmmm so good.
Below are some places we visited:

Notre-Dame Cathedral

&

Arc de Triomphe

Moulin Rouge & Trocadero

Sacre-Coeur

&

Statue of Liberty

Eiffel Tower

Before heading back to England Aaron's Mum and Dad treated us to a delicious dinner at the Planet Hollywood near Disneyland Paris. Thanks so much!!!

I Love this Picture - There was a lovely young swan near our villa in France and I think this picture says it all!

When we returned to England we were able to visit a few more places before Aaron returned home. Grannie and Grancha took us to the Croft Castle where I was able to embark in a whole new experience of ancestry. It was such a neat experience to visit the castle where my mother's ancestors came from and learn a bit more about their history. It was such a neat experience to be in the surroundings and imagine what had taken place there many years ago. It was incredible! Thank you Grannie and Grancha!

Croft Castle

We also visited Chatsworth House (Mr. Darcy's house from the Hollywood version of Pride and Prejudice), Sherwood Forest (Robin Hoods Home :)) and spent more time visiting friends and family. Before Aaron returned home Mum and Dad took us out for dinner while Beth and Josh stayed with Auntie Sarah, we had such a fun evening out with the four of us and also got to stop by the home Mum and Dad lived in when they were first married. It was so cute to see them reminisce.

Chatsworth House

Sherwood Forest
&
The Church where Robin and Maid Marian were married













Me & Aaron

Mum & Dad

at a Mexican restaurant for dinner

Visiting the first home of Mum & Dad

Joshua Playing 'Trains' with Finley and Chester

After Aaron headed back home we had another week to enjoy our time and relax before following him. Grannie took us to Foxton Locks for a day and that was definitely a new experience. I have to say, I've never seen anything like it, it was incredible.
One of the days Pops, Josh and myself headed to Drayton Manor and Thomas Land. That was the neatest experience and we wish that Aaron could have been with us. Joshua was in heaven, it was like nothing I had ever seen or experienced and to make things even better, hardly anyone was there. It was fantastic. They also had a big shop where EVERYTHING was in Thomas the Train so I got a few Christmas and birthday gifts while we were there.

Joshua K., Olivia and Joshua P. (such a cute pair)

Among all of the fun things mentioned above Joshua loved spending time with his Pops the best. He continually talks about how fun it was to feed the goats and chickens and to ride the horses and asks when he can go to Mama, Pops and Beth's house to do that all again! We had so much fun while we were over there and can't wait until we all live a bit closer so that Joshua can spend more time with them. If Joshua had his way we would probably have chickens and goats of our own... yikes... He does exceptionally well with our two cats though and they love him to bits. Its amazing how gentle he is with them and how they will go to him for attention!

I just love this picture of Joshua feeding the goats! Sooo Cute!