Happy Birthday, Spencer

 2 Years Old

 1st Birthday

      2 weeks old with my favorite doctor

A few minutes old

I really think Spencer has changed more than Lauren, Caleb, or Abby. His hair was so dark and now he is practically blonde. This sweet boy has brought so much joy into our lives. He loves to call Lauren, "Sissy" and if she doesn't answer, he just says it louder and louder. The same if you don't respond when he says ank you. I love to hear him say, 'ere it is!" When he is looking for something because he says it with such emphasis. He loves to see the school buses that stop across the street as well as planes and trains, he always waves and tells them bye-bye. Other words he says include: ball, swing, eye, ose, outh, head, ears, oon (spoon), ot (snot), ean up (clean up), irdie, ish (finished), up, ate (gate), ooey ooey (Umi Zumi), ucky hands, ead (read), drink, milk (sounds like oke), juice, ipper (Chipper), Daddy, Da-Da (me), Ickey Ouse, Oodles (Toodles), ight (light), side (outside), oli oli (ravioli), ash (trash), Aggie (whenever he sees the ATM), uzzle, shoe shoe, cheese, Abby, Ub (Caleb), uck (Stuck), ain (train and plane), tee-tee, cookies, uit bites, this, that, hello, elp (help), oos oos (Blue's Clues), baby, ocean (lotion), uh-huh, ubbles, eat, the end, Percy, ack (track), cake, E I (butterfly), shoo fly, see, bath, izza, oothush (toothbrush), aste (toothpaste), and more. When we are in the van and have to stop, he orders us to, "Go! Go!" I think his favorite thing to say is, "Daddy home!!"

At prayertime, he knows exactly when to get the prayer cube or prayer cards. If he gets a prayer card, he points to the card and mummbles as if he is reading. Then he puts it right back. After kisses, he runs into the girls' room and snuggles up in Abby's bed. He stays in there with Lauren until we insist that he come out and let her sleep.

He loves to play outside with his brother and sisters, and he loves to jump on the trampoline. He has just learned how to snap the Thomas train tracks together by himself. He likes to play dolls with Abby so I use it as an opportunity to prepare him for his baby brother or sister. He sings along with songs such as the ABCs, Barney, songs his Mickey doll sings, the intro to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Calliou, and the Pandamania CD in the van.

This sweet boy brings so much joy to my days. I am so blessed to be the mother of 4 precious children and can't wait to make it 5.

My Sweet Spencer

I am ashamed to admit that I don't have a journal for Spencer. He is #4 and I always feel like I am chasing my tail around so I'm going to start here and hopefully buy that journal soon.

Today when Spencer woke up from his nap, he was a little fussy so I gave him his milk. He put it down and did the baby sign for "eat" and even told me, "Eeeee." I'm not sure if my other kids were signing at this age, but we're so excited to be able to communicate with him.

His first word was "duck" but it took us some time to figure out what he has been saying because it comes out, "guck."

So many exciting milestones are in the near future.

Spencer Christian

We have been pretty busy around here with the addition of our precious new son.

On Thursday, May 6, I went in for my 36 week appointment and found out I was dilated to a 4 and 60% effaced. For me that meant the baby was on his way. I was excited until I found out that my doctor was not delivering that weekend. I have been through so much with this doctor, I did not want anyone but her to be a part of this special moment so I went home and put myself on bedrest. The doctor told me to come in first thing Monday morning.

On May 10, I went in and I had progressed just a little bit. I was amazed at what bedrest did. I had made it to 36 weeks and 5 days, a new record for me. I told my doctor (who I LOVE...have I said that?) that Lauren was going to have her first program on Thursday and I couldn't imagine missing it. I also had to consider the fact that my doctor was not on call that weekend either. She told me she could get things moving by stripping my membrane a little. And so she did.

When I got back to work maybe 15 minutes later, my eyes couldn't adjust. It was as if I had stared at the sun. As I stared at my computer, I realized I was seeing flashing circles. I remembered that this is a sign of preclampsia. I called my school nurse and she had me come down to check my blood pressure. It was elevated. I have never had elevated blood pressure before. The doctor's office said to go to the hospital so Stephen and the kids picked me up and took me right over. Then he took the kids to a neighbor's and came back. The doctor stopped by at 1 and said she hoped to deliver Spencer before her 5:00 C-Section.

She stopped by at 5, but I was not quite ready so she came back after her C-section. We started pushing at 6:36 and he was born at 6:44. He weighed 6 lbs. 5 oz. and was 19" long.

He was checked for a "grunting noise" which indicates fluid in the lungs, but it corrected itself. Amazingly we were discharged (with no indications of jaundice) before 48 hours...another record!

We thank God every day for our new gift.