Saturday, February 26, 2011

4 weeks

This Tuesday will be 4 weeks since Reid was born. Wes and I can hardly believe that we have survived through 4 weeks of sleepless nights. Actually, this past week has been better as Reid only wakes 4 times per night and goes right back to sleep after feeding. We have been doing our best to keep him awake in the evening until 9:00 so that he will usually sleep through a little after midnight giving me at least 2 1/2 hours of sound sleep.

With Jaidyn and Addy we had professional pictures taken at 2 weeks and here it is almost four weeks and I still have yet to schedule any pictures for Reid. So today I got the camera out and took a few pictures of our own. I plan on getting some better ones done of the entire family once the weather gets warm and we can get them done outside. Hopefully we will find time once the school year ends.

Here are some pictures of our chunky little guy at almost 4 weeks old...
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For this picture, Wes was standing behind me making farting noises and then blaming it on me. This got lots of laughs out of the kids. And I think Reid is trying to make some noises of his own.

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Reid and I hang out lots in the recliner.

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His face cracks me up!!

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Reid with Papa J.R. and Lala

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Two Weeks

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Has it really already been 2 weeks? With the sleepless nights, the days have really seem to run together. Could this also be why I forgot to send Addy's Valentine's box and Valentine's with her to her party on Monday? I remembered to send the paper ware for her party, but missed the teacher gifts and "Love Bug" box sitting on top of the refrigerator (to keep Levi from it)that she had worked so hard in making a few days prior. Poor Addy was devastated when she walked in to her class and saw everyone else's box and had to decorate a paper sack. Thankfully, I did notice it about an hour in to her preschool class and did get it delivered to her classroom before the party. I'm hoping that this is not a normal occurring theme for a mom with 4 little ones. Oh, help me now!

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Yea! The snow is finally almost melted away. And I am loving the warming weather in the forecast. Jaidyn did make the most of the snow while it was here.

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I LOVE my mom! Last week she spent a good three days with us basically just being Cinderella. The laundry was always folded, the dishes were put away, school books were read and of course Reid was really spoiled as every time he would even mutter a little cry she was there to pick him up. And she ran all of the errands so I never had to get out in the icky snow any of those days.
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We ventured out for the Super Bowl to one of Wes's coworkers house. This was Reid's first official night out. I was a little worried about having to take 4 kids to someone else's house, but as you can see in the picture, they fit right in. And truly our kids were entertained by all of the older kids and I barely saw them while I was there.
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One of my best friends, Lesley and her kids made the trip to see us. It was so nice to just sit around and catch up. I wish we were able to get together more often, but between her kids activities and ours, even when we lived closer, it just didn't happen much.
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And Addy tells us that she is going to marry Kory...I'm not sure that he is on board though. :)

Jared & Carrie gave up a Friday night and brought over pizza to get to meet little Reid.
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Jill, Ryan & Connor spent last weekend with us. I am so glad they made the 4 hour trip.
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The kids are just loving little Reid. Addy goes on and on about how handsome he is. Jaidyn is truly a little mother hen. Levi likes to sit in my lap when I am holding him and gives him kisses.

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Just this morning, Jaidyn was reading a book that she picked out at the school book fair last night to Reid.

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Yep, I would have to agree with Addy, He sure is handsome! I love this little guy! It has only been two weeks and we already can't imagine our lives without him.

This past weekend we were all able to meet up to give my parent's their 60th birthday (coming up in March) getaway. I think they knew something was up because of us all wanting to meet, it just wasn't an engagement or elopement of one of my two siblings as they had maybe thought. Lol!
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(Yea Dad! You have your eyes open!)

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(Dad, two pictures in one day with eyes open...Your're making progress!)

Thank you to everyone who sent the kids Valentine's. They love getting mail and loved all of their special treats and surprises. Thank you Lauretta for dropping off the Lasagna meal. It was a perfect meal for Valentine's Day. I didn't have to drag the kids out to eat and I didn't have to cook. And you know it was a success as even Addy ate it and liked it.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Reid Casen Collins

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Our big 9 lb. 4 oz. Blizzard Baby Boy made his way into this world on February 1st at 3:15 PM. Reid's weight would definitely help explain the many leg cramps, back aches and heart burn that I experienced the past few months. His name from Will (as it was planned to be for probably the last 6 months) to Reid was a last minute switch as the epidural drugs made me cave in to the name Wes wanted. We managed to make it to the hospital early in the morning before the big snow and winds and only encountered sleet covered roads along the way. The National Weather Service had headlines out stating that the Ozarks were possibly going to experience the worst blizzard conditions since 1912. Our doctor who hasn't missed a day due to weather since the big snow in 1978 (year I was born) was a trooper as he made it about mid morning to the hospital for the delivery. Due to the weather, Papa J.R. was our only visitor for the day and the others stayed back with the kids as we didn't want anyone out traveling in the dangerous conditions.

Reid is doing well but unfortunately has his days and nights switched. I was able to get 2 hours of sleep this morning from 5 to 7. He felt the need to be up all of the other hours wanting to eat mainly. And I think is already so spoiled that every time I had him sleeping and would put him down in his crib he would immediately wake up and start crying. As long as I hold him he snuggles right up and goes right back to sleep. It is a little before noon and he has been sleeping soundly for about 2 hours now so I am sure I am up for another long night tonight. We had an early morning doctor's appointment this morning to monitor his jaundice level and unfortunately his billi number almost doubled, so we have a lighted blanket that is supposed to be delivered to our house sometime soon to hopefully bring that number back down in the next 24 hours. Since he is a good eater, they feel that he should recover quickly.

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The kids giving their soon-to-be brother hugs and kisses the night before his debut.

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The view from a window in the hall down from my delivery room. I didn't get to see any part of the blizzard since I was confined to a bed all day in a non-window delivery room and my recovery room had a window with only a roof top view and it was already dark at that point.

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As the doctor delivered him, he says "Well, I think you can take back any Preemie/Newborn clothes." 9 lbs. 4 oz.

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Reid has lots of proud siblings and grandparents and of course a very proud dad!
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Thank you to Papa, Nana and Grandma Penny for keeping the kids for a good three days. The kids thoroughly enjoyed it! And to Papa for shoveling our driveway and deck. In the bitter temps, I am sure that was quite the task. We appreciate all the well wishes and congratulatory emails and postings on facebook. I am sure I will have some more pictures to share very soon!