Ethan's Preschool Graduation

Before the program....Ethan and Alexis


Ethan singing his little heart out.....he knew all of the songs....


Mrs. Kerri giving Ethan his certificate...


Well, he's finally graduated....from Preschool, that is! I cried, of course...and Ethan could not have been more excited about the whole thing....45 minutes of song and dance....what a great program! His teachers, Mrs. Kerri and Mrs. Debbie....they are just wonderful. Thank you for all your hard work....enjoy some pics...



After the program, there were refreshments....tons of desserts and pics with some friends....

Nothing big, just a sigh of relief

Alexis tried to pull me out of the couch yesterday. Her elbow hurt ever since. In my professional opinion as an athletic trainer I suspected that some muscle or ligament attachment in her elbow got stretched...there really wasn't anything to suggest bone involvement; just one minute she is struggling to pull me up and the next she is a slobbering mess who won't let me touch her craddled arm. I put it in a shoulder sling until night time, when I ACE wrapped her arm to her body. I went to work at the hospital.


I came home to learn she didn't sleep well at all last night. I slept for half an hour before taking Lexi to the Dr's office. Based on my description and results of tests I performed on her while she slept on my lap yesterday (and knowing that girls the same age as Lexi are prone to this) the Dr. quickly diagnosed her as having a dislocated elbow; although in my defense, I think technically it was only subluxated and not completely dislocated. There wasn't any discoloration, deformity, swelling, anything other than her obvious pain upon movement.


So, according to the physician young females have a tendency towards loose elbow joints. Once this joint dislocates it becomes easier for the next time (reoccurring) until they hit the next growth spurt (puberty) and grow out of it. He then had me brace Lexi while he reduced it. He was almost shocked at how well Lexi handled it. She started out as a whimper and gradually elevated her volume to a healthy cry; but not a shriek nor scream. Considering that she had her elbow out of joint for over 12 hours (this happened at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon) she overcame her stiffness rather quickly. By the time we left the office she used her arm to pull some hair out of her face.


From there we met up with the rest of our family at the park. Ethan played his last T-ball game and our ward family hosted a baby welcoming party under the title of baby shower. Chandra's sister, Christina, and her family drove out from Maryland to spend the day. Everyone played at the park until after noon. So, what about poor Lexi? I pulled her off the monkey bars because the Dr. told me she could easily dislocate her elbow herself now that she has demonstrated the laxity tendency; he said it could be as easy as her hanging on one of her parents or swinging from a bar. I turned around to see her slide arm under arm down the fireman pole at the playground. She remembers that her elbow hurt, but shows no obvious intention of letting that distant memory hold her back from keeping up with her brother amongst others.


By the way, Hunter Kade was 14 days old today. He and Mom are doing wonderfully. Ethan has showed at least 3 neighbors his trophy and let them appreciate the "gold" appearance and the weight as well as his name on it. We had a late lunch with our family members and hung out at the house. We had a surprise visit by an aunt and cousin. Once everyone left for the evening Ethan helped me mow the lawn and then offered to sweep the grass off the driveway while I finished up. Lexi helped Mom vacuum inside during this time. It is no wonder that after baths and books half the family fell asleep during my short prayer and within 2 minutes all but myself succumbed. I carried everyone individually to their respective beds.

Drum roll please

After much anticipation it is our pleasure to introduce Hunter Kade Jeppson. He arrived home today after lunch. He slept most of the afternoon, not because he has jet lag nor because his stomach was satisfied, but because he attended his first "yard sale" this morning and cruelly discovered he was the sale and the price...half off. His first 2 days on earth are probably not anything he will write Home about with any fondness.
Anyway, Mammah bought KFC and we feasted before I showed the kids what quiet time was for. Mammah headed home to her bed alone after dinner and we can't thank her enough. She not only provided loving care to us in 3 states (VA, MD, and DE), stocked our pantry, washed our clothes, hung some blinds over our sliding door in the kitchen, but she even stocked our water softener with 2 bags of salt. These grandmas think of everything.
Ethan has his last day of preschool tomorrow..."And the beat goes on, my friend..."

Whatever his name will be, he is here

I remarked to Chandra that with as quick as Lexi's birth was we caught up all that time with this baby. Hunter was born at 2051 on May 24th (exactly 1 year from the date we signed on our house in VA). He weighs 8 pounds and 5 ounces. He is 19 inches long. Chandra was in heavy labor about 3 hours with the actual pushing lasting probably no more than 10 agonizing minutes. It took forever to get the number up to 6, but once it did it must have only been an hour later an we were holding our son. Chandra went au natural. Her decision to go without the epidural didn't seem to hold up when we had everything in place and she was at the slippery slope of being a 6. But she hesitated long enough to where the baby would have been here and dried off before she would have felt anything. She had a sub-1 episiotomy. I really don't know how much more she would want published, but am sure she will fill in the missing gaps once she is up and running, so I will defer to the nurse about any more details.
Baby Hunter ____, or ____ Hunter, looks great as far as where he just came from and his mode of travel is concerned. His head is not misshapen at all. He cried a little bit once out, but quieted down as soon as his mom snuggled him. He closed his eyes and rested until the mean nurse stabbed him with the Vitamin K shot, but even then he was forgiving and wanted to resume snuggling.
Chandra's parents brought the kids to visit at what must have been 30-45 minutes before delivery. Chandra tried to be brave, but Ethan was very quick to pick up on the vibe that his mom wasn't feeling well and he began to withdraw. They didn't stay more than 5 minutes before leaving. They began waiting in the lobby, but when I called them to share the news, they were getting subs and had to rush back to the hospital.
The kids were very excited; Alexis more visibly than Ethan, but both were not shy about approaching the bed. Alexis wanted to crawl up in bed and join the group. She was all kisses for her little brother. Ethan never did kiss him, but became impatient when he had to wait in a chair a few minutes before getting his turn to hold the new arrival. Once he held his brother he was all smiles and very interested in what would happen next. He is more reserved about showing emotion (like his dad).
Once the party left I stayed behind to help Chandra shower and get comfortable. She told me she felt a connection when she and Hunter first locked eyes. She didn't have any profound words to describe what she felt, but I'm sure every mother knows what I'm talking about. Before getting caught up in the moment we had read an article about our Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness and how being married in the temple seals children to parents forever; not until death closes this mortal door. I felt a little, maybe echo is the right word, of the depth involved in being an eternal family and am grateful for the privilege of witnessing the miracle of birth for the third time.
Anyway, I must close and go to bed. Chandra should be discharged late Tuesday morning. She has her cell phone with her so call and leave a message if she doesn't answer and she will work her way down the list. Trust me, there aren't any decent cable channels on TV for her to watch. Without anyone else there she can't play Skipbo, so she will have some time to chat.

Our Little Energizer Bunny...

It has been about 18-19 hours since we were admitted. Chandra has advanced slowly. She is still walking around and bouncing/rocking on the ball. She is beginning to get really hungry and tired of just popsicles. We have played SkipBo countless times, have read Ensign articles together, watched TV, and napped. At the last visit from the Dr. she was rated as being dilated to a 3 with 80% effacement. Chandra says her contractions are becoming stronger and closer together. If this baby behaves like Ethan did, he should be born 24 hours after the first administration of Cervidil. That puts us around 1900-2000. We have about 3-4 hours to learn what comes after the number 3.

.......Could be the real thing?

So, we are headed to the hospital to be induced again tonight....I definitely feel like this is it this time! we are 1 week overdue today...only 7 days....it could be worse I guess! I haven't slept comfortable in 3 days now- tossing and turning all night! It's not fun. I've already walked for 35 minutes today on the treadmill. Feel good! The house is as clean as it's going to get....I'm just so sick of cleaning! My 3rd session of acupuncture didn't work. It was an interesting experience. I've never done it before! I went on Wednesday. I was fine with the tiny needles going into different spots on my hands and feet...except for the little toe! I never got used to that spot. I don't care of it's the "most important spot" as the MD stayed! I didn't like it! I spent 20 minutes the first day, 40 minutes on Thursday, and 50 minutes yesterday! I could hardly get off the table the first two days, contracting throughout the day both days but they would fizzle out by night! Yesterdays visit, I sat up with no contractions at all! In my mind, I was saying, "ok....been there, done this, thanks, but I'm finished!" I had to stay optimistic though, especially when the MD came in to say, "we are really going to electrify this little one!" I then asked, "Is this safe?" She laughed and gave lots of reassurance. I closed my eyes and pictured the baby here and holding him. But after all was said and done, Chris and I went to a work party and came home with no "feeling of baby on the way soon." What a stubborn little guy! I hope this doesn't mean he'll be late for everything!!! heehee!
It's been a good week though! I've worked another week with some overtime even! The kids are with my mom and dad and keep saying they'll come home when the baby is here! They have been to a dinosaur museum, bethany beach, ocean city, fishing, rode bikes, helped my mom cut the tall lawn with snakes slithering by. Mom accidently chopped one up with the weedeater. It was hilarious listening to Ethan tell me the story! They have played with cousins and just have been nonstop since they left our house! I'm sure my mom is getting tired though, and I'm ready for them to be home now!
Well, until later....

OVERDUE day 4!!!

Somebody PLEASE help!!!!! The baby is just not coming...is it a boy thing? I'm trying to stay positive and not get tear-eyed when I think about it...but I'm getting tired and just wanting this kiddo here already! I've done everything shy of the nausea/vomiting/diarrhea lovely oil...which I know will just make me miserable! ehehekekekeke! The baby is moving around so much...and I'm having contractions, just not the steady, painful ones....which now I want!!!! After today's ED shift of 8 hours, I'll have my 40 hours for the week already! Now I can stay off until July 4th and get paid...that will be nice! But, I'm really just wanting this little guy here!
Mom came, conquered and left with Ethan and Alexis yesterday. They are having a blast. Ethan gets so excited to tell me all the fun things they are doing and Lexi is just too busy to chat on the phone! I miss them already, but what mom wouldn't. They are the cutest kids, I think, ever!!! It's really great though that mom can take them for a few days incase I go into labor, finish up some last minute things, and try to rest...or run to get this baby here!!!!! Thanks mom so much for everything! You are a life-saver and I love you very much!