Swinging Lucy

I looked out the window this afternoon and saw Lucy swinging on the rope swing.  And I felt an overwhelming urge to grab my camera and go take pictures of her.  She seems to be growing up so quickly lately (even though we are asked almost daily if her and Eloise are twins).  She just learned to ride her bike, she is such a sweet little mama to Penelope and she is getting braver about many different things; including this swing.  

I just wanted to remember her sweet face this afternoon. 

 Our sweet little Kindergartener, 5-year-old, Lucy.  We love you sweet girl!

Swim Team

 We had another great summer of swim team.  This was Oliver's last year as a kickboarder.  He also swam freestyle and one very nerve wracking backstroke where he barely made it across the pool. 

 Penelope was a great baby at all the meets.  Such a happy girl. 

 Madeline swam every stroke, even butterfly.  It certainly wasn't her favorite though.  Her favorites were freestyle and breaststroke.  And she ended up swimming both in the invitationals. 

 Coaches Allison and April were so sweet and encouraging to our kids. 

 Oliver doing "Eenie, Meenie, Minie Mo" to choose which foot to start with. 

 I guess the right foot won. 

It was a crazy busy swim season.  But, it was fun.  

Kindergarten Graduation

This past June, Oliver graduated from Kindergarten.  We had a ceremony with some other graduates from our homeschool group.  It was quite the feat to get him into his button up shirt and tie.  There isn't much he hates more.  But, I sure wish he liked to wear them more often.  Look how handsome he is!!

He was having a very important meeting before the ceremony. 

Oliver and his good friend, Anna.

All the crazies!!

Madeline with her friends, Faith and Paige, at the reception. 

And we get to do this again in June with Lucy!

Penelope Jane Glenn

 Penelope Jane was born on March 17th at 8:20pm.  She was 8lb 5oz and 18 inches long. 

 I called the hospital at 6am to make sure they had room for me to come in for an induction.  They told me that they were full and to call back at 7am.  I was a bit panicky since the same thing happened with Eloise and I had to wait all the way through the weekend to be induced with her.  (Even though it was 1 week before my due date, it is hard to get a date set in your mind and then be told that you aren't going to meet your baby that day after all.  And that you have to be pregnant a second longer!)  But, I called back at 7 and they actually had room for us. 

 On the way to the hospital, the doctor's office called and wondered where I was.  They said the hospital hadn't heard from me.  So, then I started getting worried again that they really wouldn't have room for me when I got there and they were going to send me home.  I told them I was on the way and I had called twice already that morning.  We finally arrived at the hospital and thankfully, they were all ready for us.

 I finally got a round of antibiotics right before 11 (to avoid the Group B Strep issues we had with Oliver) and then started the pitocin.  I was hoping to have a baby by 4.  But, things seemed to go rather slowly.  I got an epidural around 3, which broke my water and another dose of antibiotics.

Andrew and I spent our time watching Fixer Upper, sleeping and reading Harry Potter.  Well, I read Harry Potter.  He played Age of Empires.  

 My epidural stopped working on one side around 6.  I felt for sure she would be born soon since that is what has happened with all the others.  But, she just didn't seem to be moving down at all.  After about an hour, my doctor called the anesthesiologist back in and he adjusted something in my back and all was well again.  I wish I had known that they could just adjust the "thing" in your back and make the epidural work correctly with all my others.  

 7 o'clock came and went without a baby.  My nurse, who had been taking care of me all day had to leave and a new nurse came on.  I had felt sure that we would have met Penelope way before this.  I'm guessing my water had not broken all the way which prevented the contractions from being very effective.  Just my theory.  About another hour of laboring and all of a sudden I knew she was coming.  I had one more contraction and she was born, just like that.  

All the kids and grandparents came to visit her that first night.  It was so very late for the kids.  But, they had been waiting all day to meet her.  We were only supposed to have 2 visitors at a time.  But, we ended up with 8.  I think the nurse was a little worried.  But, at least we know Penelope is well loved. 

I am loving having a newborn again.  There is definitely a lack of sleep.  But, I know it doesn't last forever.  And she gives me a good excuse to just slow down.  There's nothing like snuggling with a newborn on your chest.  

  It's fun to see all the big kids loving on her.  Lucy loves being a little mommy and holds her the most.  Eloise loves to put their faces together and talk to her.  Eloise calls her "Nelope".  So consequently, that is what I call her often.  Sometimes I call her Nellie Jane as well.  We'll see if any nicknames stick.  

 So, welcome to the world little Penelope.  We are so glad you are here!