Darci Keianna

Before...

 After...

 Our sweet sweet nurse that let the kiddos help with everything. She was so amazing and made a real impact on our birthing experience. She was so special.

 So grateful my parents were able to be there, they were such a big help.

I was induced on Sat Sept 7th at 6:45 in the am. It was early! It was slow going at first and then all of a sudden it was happening. My pitocin was started at 830 and they broke my water around 930. I was only a 4 at that point. After they broke my water of course I was a hurtin unit! So I got an epidural around 10 and it worked fantasticly. So nicely in fact that I felt so numb I wasn't sure I could feel to push so I actually had them turn my dose down. @ 1:00 things were still going so slow I was only a 5/6. Rich was hungry so I told him to run to the cafeteria, he didn't even get off the elevator. Shortly after he left there was a drop on the monitor and my doctor came in immediately. She checked me and they could already see the babies head, I wasn't prepared! So much laying around and then go from a 5 to complete in 10 min! I called rich and he came rushing back and he even helped deliver, which was pretty cool. He said, 'oh we have a little darci!' so exciting and so thrilled that meili has a sister :) I only pushed 2 or 3 times, it was very fast! We just liked the sound of the name Darci with Meili and Keianna is Japanese for 'rapture' or 'joy'. Just thought it was really pretty and feminine. She weighed 6lb 5oz and 18.5 in long and was born @ 1:36pm. Dad brought the kids in shortly thereafter and our sweet nurse Debbie encouraged Kailer and Meili to help with her first bath and lotion, etc. She was an excellent nurse full of grandmother like love :) We had a few rough nights there at first, it is such a tiring experience, but so beautiful and special all at the same time. We all got to go home together after 2 nights in the hospital. We were so grateful for gma and gpa and all their help :)

Meili's Birthday

This little lady turned 5. She requested butterfly and flower cupcakes and a cake, so we made it happen! She wanted to have a party with friends at the pool, which we made happen as well! I love that she has so much spunk and fire in her. I love that she loves bugs, getting dirty, playing in the rain, fishing, hunting, gymnastics, smelling flowers, catching butterflies, cinderella, and burritos :) She had a great time. She even wanted to wait to celebrate with gma and gpa. She is quite a gal and we are so grateful for her!

 She started preschool as a peer model for autistic and other handicapped children 4 days a week for 3 hrs. She is loving it and gaining so much from it :)

 I painted this dollhouse for her, which my parents picked up, she loves it :)

 she picked out this leather jacket. loves black

AUG in a nutshell

 August was a very lazy month for us! We have been enjoying our summer of no schedules! It's been so fun to have late nights frogging, playing outside with friends, riding bikes, getting dirty, and just enjoying our time together before our new one arrives. We are really getting excited for that, the kids can't wait to find out what we are having!

 We love keeping this little man up an hr or so after the others go to bed just to spend time with him one on one. He really is still such a baby :)

 Kai's first day of 2nd grade, which he was soooo excited for! He loves school so much!

 I turned the big 3-0 this month and it was such a special weekend. My friends took me out sat night and we shopped, had dinner, and they even made me my fav cake, german chocolate. It was a great evening. Little did I know, while I was gone Rich took all 3 to the store and bought a cake, came home made it and hit it till sun morn. We celebrated and had cake right after church. He is an awesome daddy and husband and I'm so lucky to have him :) Then monday I had a friend buy me a treat and take me out for lunch and I even got to put in an online order for a couple of shirts I wanted thanks to mom and dad. I figure since I'm so pregnant trying it on in store, isn't going to happen anyway right! Thanks for making it a special wknd, I'm sure spoiled rotten :)

 Since Mei is turning 5 in Sept we decided to do a little photo shoot and she got all dressed up in some new school attire :) Sometimes I feel like I'm already raising a little teenager, but definitely when I look at these pictures she sure does look like one :) She is growing up soo fast!

 She is starting preschool in Sept and could not be more excited!!! Next post will be a baby one :)