Settling In....

Charlie is one week old already. We are all settling in nicely. Charlie sleeps and eats like a champ. I've been getting 2-3 hours of sleep at a time during the night which is sooo nice. Kelly returns to work part time this week.

It was 106.6 degrees here on Saturday. We huddled inside in front of fans, cranked up the A/C and played with our new Wii. Cow racing is a hoot! Caroline has taking up Wii boxing and triumphed over both her brothers. Go Caroline!

Katherine is doing well, despite the heat. Recovery will take a couple of weeks, but she's doing fine now that she's home. Look for the Official Birth Announcements by mail soon.

Coming Home, Finally

We were finally able to bring baby Charlie home today.

After installing him in his fabulously complicated Modular Infant Transportation Pod, he was secured with the aid of 18 straps, latches and buckles. Charlie looked like he was about to be launched into orbit rather than driven to Hillsboro in Mom's mini van. (45mph, right lane, flashers going. Yes, that was us.)

William came along for the ride...



A nice quiet day in the old Jones Farm Neighborhood.

Or so we thought. No sooner do Katherine and William step out of the car, mini-vans roar up from every direction, and screech to a stop in front of the house...





First, our neighbor Beverly stops by for a quick inspection...





Moments later, Caroline and Jackson race across the street with the Wisshack children in hot pursuit, followed by Brucinda. Everybody makes
a mad dash for the door.





Realizing there is no chance of escape, Katherine collapses in a chair with baby Charlie, resigning herself to be the center of attention for everyone in the neighborhood.

Maybe next time, I can distract them with Popsicles or something...

Seriously, we would again like to thank everyone for their help and support with the other kids during our extended hospital stay. And for the many gifts we've received since the babies arrival. We look forward to showing off baby Charlie every chance we get this summer.

Fourth of July is right around the corner, and then it's Birthday Season. Wee haw.

Update from St. Vincents

Some of you may have heard that Katherine may have to stay in the hospital a few days longer than expected, owing to some issues that cropped up after the C-Section surgery. Long story short, this mornings procedure confirmed that everything is going OK now. We expect Katherine and Baby Charlie to head home Wednesday am.

We would like to off our most heartfelt thanks to Grace, Jane and Joe for all their help with our other children during this time, even if they do end up drinking all my Red Stripe Lager. However, please be advised: Katherine, who has not had a beer in many months with be very, very unhappy.

Remembering Last Summer...

We were thinking of taking the kids to
Disneyworld's Animal Kingdom Adventure...




but we decided to go to Idaho instead.




Now back you your regularly scheduled Baby News...

Got These on the First Try.... Really...

Video!

Ain't Technology Grand?

First Family Visit

2:30pm The other kids come to visit their new baby brother.

Baby Day!

June 20th, 2008

Charles Kelly McArthur
8 lbs, 1 oz. 20" long. Born 7:45am

Robust, noisy, lot's of hair.

Day before Baby Day

Thursday, June 19th, 2008:

The phone rings.
"Let the machine get it", Katherine says, wearily.

"Hello", the message begins.
"This is Providence St. Vincent Hospital. We're just calling to remind you that you have an appointment to come in for C-Section tomorrow morning, at 7am. Don't forget." says the cheery voice on the other end of line, sounding like a dental tech reminding her about dropping by to get her teeth cleaned.

"You must be joking", says Katherine. "Right, sure. I almost forgot. I almost forgot that I have a giant baby inside of me, that I have to lean back to walk down stairs, that I haven't seen my feet in two months."

"Thank goodness for that call. I'm sure glad I didn't forget that I have been planning, scheming, and organizing the lives of my entire extended family for weeks, around this date. Nope, sure glad it didn't slip my mind."

"Thanks for the call."

Graduation

Jackson graduates Kindergarten!

38 weeks...

My cousin and I both pregnant with #4...and they are both boys!

Friday, June 13, I was officially 38 weeks. I would have usually had a baby by now since I am having a c-section. But, the hospitals have made a NATIONAL policy for c-sections to be done at 39 weeks (unless there is an emergency). So I am going to be pregnant for one more week. It's just fine, I have stuff to do yet. The baby's things are done, but I still need to stock up on food, pack my hospital bag, get the house in order.