JULY CATCH UP

OK, so I majorly neglected my blog over the past year and now I'm going to give you a little over view of what went on around here- starting with the month we brought Lane home.

Lane and I spent 4 wonderful days in the hospital, just cuddling and sleeping and eating and sleeping and cuddling some more.  He woke up screaming pretty much every time I put him down, but loved to sleep right on my belly, so this was my view for those 4 days.

Then we came home and there was a lot of love waiting for him here!

That whole "waking up screaming every time I tried to put him down" thing pretty much lasted the whole first month, so he spent a lot of time just like this...so content...with his little tiny baby fingers clutching me.  Oh he was so yummy!

 We had spent all of June completely home bound, so it was a relief to get out of the house and have some fun after Lane was born.  Our wonderful neighbor let us come over and swim a couple of times a week.

I don't know how we could have done it with out my mom's help.  She came for over two weeks.  She is so amazing.  It was so hard to see her go when she left.

 

                               At the park...this is one of my all time  favorite pictures of Heather

After being home for a couple of weeks, Lane discovered his thumb.  Oh isn't that the cutest thing ever?  Now he sucks his pointer finger and I think it's adorable.  

Kathryn Anne pretending to be pregnant.

 

So to be perfectly honest, the main reason it has taken me so long to blog about Lane's birth is because every time I looked at the pictures I felt so sad.  I know that sounds crazy, but I LOVE being a mother and bringing a new baby into the world and into our family is one of the most joyous and sacred experiences I will ever have. I would do it again in a heart beat, but my body just can't.  I have definitely grieved the fact that I will not have these sweet first weeks at home with a new baby ever again.  I learned in our years of infertility that God has a plan for our family.  I learned when my 2nd pregnancy ended and we lost Connor that God has a plan for our family.  I am learning to trust in that plan again and to treasure each precious moment with these five little souls God has entrusted Evan and I with.

LET ME INTRODUCE...Lane Lawrence McAllister

Eight months and 8 days ago, our lives were blessed with the safe arrival of our little boy.  Lane Lawrence was named for his two grandfathers.

My pregnancy was awful.  My pelvic bones spread too much- to the point that walking was difficult for the last 4 months.  Then I developed gestational diabetes.  Then I developed inflammation in the nerve of my inner ear and suffered from vertigo, involuntary eye movement and speech issues (they thought I might be having mini strokes)...I was pretty much a mess.  At week 36, when Lane's projected weight was 10 lbs, we began talking C-section.  At 38 weeks, he was delivered safely by cesarean...a healthy 9lbs 4 oz with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice and tied in a knot. 

Even recovering from a C-section was considerably less painful than what I had been deeling with for the previous 4 months.  It was such a relief to have him in my arms...for many reasons.

Evan brought each of the children to the hospital on their own to meet little Lane for the first time.

We made the difficult decision that Lane would be my last pregnancy.  Every inch of my body was telling me that this pregnancy needed to be the last.  This knowledge has made every coo, every cuddle, every laugh and smile all the more precious.  He is a joy to all of us.  I am so grateful that we have been so richly blessed to have him join our family.