Now Introducing...

Nash Cannon
Born December 31, 2011
5:25 AM
20 inches long
7 pounds 14.5 ounces

We welcomed our new bundle of joy into the world on December 31, 2011 at 5:25 AM. He was 7 pounds 14.5 ounces, 20 inches long, and was 12 days early. His name is Nash Cannon Parker. People ask me how we came up with his name all the time. We went on our honeymoon to Nashville, TN. Nash is short for Nashville. Cannon is my maiden name and is actually becoming popular now for first names.

Labor went really good. He was born within 2 1/2 hours of getting to the hospital. It was barely enough time for an epidural. I had went the to doctors on Friday (12/30) and was dilated to a 3 already if I was a 4 they would have had to admit me because 4 is considered to be in labor whether or not you are having contractions or not. On December 31st, I went to bed around 12:30 AM because we were out late with the family because AUnt Peggy and Wesley from Virginia were leaving that afternoon. About 2 AM, I got up to go the bathroom came back to bed and within 15 minutes I told Brent I thought my water had broke. It was just a different kind of feeling. Of course, he was so tired he stated "are you sure you just didn't pee the bed? The doctor said you might loose some bladder control because of the baby." I could have killed him for that comment. So, we got up and started to get ready still no contractions. As we were waiting for Brent's parents to get to the house to watch the other 2, my water completely broke. Luckily, I was in the breezeway and was able to step outside onto the deck for that one. Thank goodness is all I am going to say. After that, the contractions started.

When we got to the hospital, things were moving quickly. I was a 4 and by the time I got the epidural in I was an 8 and they were waiting for the doctor. I could not get the epidural right away once at the hospital because they have to run labor work which took around one hour to get all of those results once the blood was drawn. The epidural really did not have time to kick in fully by the time Nash wanted to come. The guy doing the epidural was not very good at all. He had to stick me 3 times to get the epidural in and one time hit a blood vessel. What a mess. I knew things with the epidural was not going good just by the look on the nurses face as he was doing it. Brent could not be in the room for that, I do not know exactly why they do not let them, but he over heard the guy talking to a nurse in the hall directly afterwards and he even said it went horrible.

Overall, things did go very smoothly and fast. I told Brent I would not want things to have gone any faster, but I think your water braking is the way to go. Just think about it...having contractions all day and being super tired when you go to the hopital and them deciding to keep you or not and being in labor for hours. Or having your water brake at home with no contractions until it happens and then 2 1/2 hours later a baby being there. I guess it is a give and take kind of thing.

We are home now and recovering very well. Josie and Ogdan do excellent with Nash.

Photo taken about 1 hour prior to delivery

38 Weeks Pregnant

Today, Brent and I ventured to my 38 week doctor appointment. This is the longest I have ever been pregnant. By now, I had already had Ogdan and Josie. I did gain 2 pounds in the past week and a half, so I tipped the scale at 131 pounds. However, today I had my boots on while on the scale. Usually, I take my shoes off but today I left them on so they don't think I actually weigh that, but close to it. I am dilated to a 3 and am 80% thined. The doctor said that if I have not had this baby by January 4th then I will be having it on the 4th. The reason for that is because on the 4th I will be 39 weeks pregnant and by regulations he can not induce someone until they are 39 weeks along. Also because when you are dilated to a 4 you are considered to be in labor whether or not you are having labor pains or not. He said that chances are when I go back to my next appointment that if I have not had the baby I will be dilated to that and he will have to admit me to the hospital. He can not have me walking around being dilated to a 4 it is just way to dangerous.

So, with that being said I will only have 1 week or less ahead of me. Ready or not this baby is on its way.

Elf on the Shelf

Mr. Elf returned this year to watch over Josie and Ogdan during the Christmas season. Santa came to the house to get Josie and Ogdan's Christmas wishes and then before they went to bed they found that Mr. Elf had came in and hid himself in the Christmas tree. He must have came with Santa when he came to visit. Mr. Elf had fun while visiting us this year. Every night, he would go back to the North Pole and tell Santa all about what happened that day and every morning was somewhere different.

This year Josie really got into it and so did Ogdan. Every morning the first thing she had to do was find Mr. Elf and then make sure that we each knew where he was and show Ogdan. Ogdan did very well not to touch him so he did not loose his magic powers to fly. He was very excited to show us also where he was located. Every night before bedtime both Josie and Ogdan would tell Mr. Elf good night and blow him kisses. It was really cute!

So, where did we find Mr. Elf?

Just arrived with his book hidden in the Christmas Tree

Eating yummy candy canes from the candy jar

Sitting on the star decoration

On the shelf in the bathroom making sure the kids brush their teeth before bedtime

Vaccuming the living room...What a messy floor he thought.

Hidden in flowers - this one was really tricky for Josie to find. All you could really see was his hat and head

drinking Josie's soda in the refrigerator. Josie was not happy about this finding.

swinging from the ceiling fan

Talking to Santa on the cell phone

in Ogdan's room using his binky - Ogdan was very very upset! "No! No! My binky!"

On a hot date with Barbie! Barbie just could not find her clothes however. It seems to be the problem with all of Josie's Barbies and dolls they are all naked all the time. Josie cracked me up when she found this one stating "Mom you are not going to believe this Mr. Elf is with Barbie and she has no clothes on."

On Christmas Eve, Mr. Elf went home with Santa aboard his sleigh. Until next year Mr. Elf. We will miss you!

Christmas with Family

On December 17th, we ventured over to Aunt Connie's house for some yummy food and Christmas fun. It is so nice to visit with family during the holiday season. Even though my clan was feeling under the weather we enjoyed ourselves.

A few years ago, we decided to do the "White Elephant" gift exchange for the adults. My gifts were stolen from me twice. I ended up leaving with a 3 foot tall nutcracker. It is actually really cool and I took it to school. I didn't take a photo sorry, but just imagine what a nutcracker looks like and picture it 3 feet tall.

Sick Household

We have been struck pretty bad at our house of some major germs. Josie has an extremely nasty cough, Ogdan has bronchitis and a double ear infection, Brent has a super sore throat, and I have a really bad cold.

I could not take it anymore, so to the Urgent Care I went and found out that I to have an ear infection. With being pregnant there is not a whole lot that they can give me. They put me on ear drops just to numb the pain and an antibiotic. However, it is such a low dosage that I will be on it for 2 entire weeks. I have been on it now for a week and is just now starting to feel a little better.

What a way to spend my Christmas break. Sick! Would have thought by now I would have had this baby, but like Brent and I were talking about I have been sick and not up to anything for the past week. All I have done is either lay in bed or on the couch cuddled up to my box of tissues.

37 Weeks Pregnant

Today, we had our last sono before the baby is due to arrive. I am not due for another 3 weeks, but do to my past and delivering early we scheduled it at 37 weeks instead of the normal 38 weeks. Everything looked great. The babies heart rate was a pounding 138 beats per minute and is estimated of tipping the scale at 7 pounds 2 ounces. Josie and Ogdan both went to this appointment with Brent and I and loved seeing the baby on the tv screen.

As far as me, I am already 50% thinned and dilated to a 2. I have been feeling under the weather for a few days, so I didn not have any weight gain this week. Meaning I still am weighing 129 pounds. Not bad considering I gained a lot more with the other 2 kids.

Oh, Santa

It was a nice calm evening at our house, when out on the lawn we spotted a deer eating quietly in the grass. It was really close to the house and the kids thought it was the neatest thing ever for it to be so close. Well, about 10 minutes after watching the deer eat we realized it was not just a normal deer in the yard. Oh, no. It was one of Santa's reindeer because 10 minutes after the deer left Santa showed up knocking at our door with candy canes for the kids.

Ogdan was not happy that the big guy in red was at his house. As soon as he saw who was at the door he yelled "no, no" and ran the opposite direction to find comfort in Daddy's arms. He wanted nothing to do with him. He would not even get close to him without screaming "NO."

Josie on the other had took Santa into the living room and started on her wish list (you know the one that changes every time you ask her want she wants). She asked Santa for a Touch Pen (AKA Leappad) and a Barbie. She told Santa that she just knew he was coming since his reindeer were in her yard just a short time ago.

Ogdan did warm up a little to Santa by the time he left allowing Brent to sit on the ground kind of close to him while holding him. He did shake his hand before he left, but was a little scared to do so. But what was really cute was right before Santa left I told Ogdan that he better tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas before he left and Ogdan started to yell "Choo Choo Train." It was so cute! So, Ogdan may not sit on his lap, but he knew what he wanted for Christmas.

Now, all the kids have to do is be extra good for a little while longer so Santa can check his list for them on the nice side and not naughty.

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Christmas Program 2011

Josie was in this years annual Christmas Program at church. She did excellent! She knew her line and all 4 songs. Every day for a few weeks we practiced and practiced. It did not matter if we were in the car (we practiced), at home (we practiced), visiting people (we practiced), at the grocery store (we practiced) you name it we practiced there. She said her part and sang very well. Nice and clear and oh yeah LOUD!

This year her line was "M is for the manger where he lay." She also sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I like to be a Christmas Tree, Away in the Manger, and Ring the Bells.

Overall it was a great program. Minus the fact that we were all feeling under the weather. Expecially Tank (AKA Ogdan). Take a look at the last photo to see how bad he actually looked. His eyes at one time were so swollen he could hardly see out of them.

Doesn't Ogdan look pretty bad her. Poor guy! And what bad parents we are for dragging him to Josie's program all sick like this.