Welcome Baby Harry!

Harrison Lucas Kearns was born on April 14, 2016. After about 5 days of pretty consistent contractions, we were more than happy he finally decided to come out! I was 7cm dilated when I got to the doctor's office and was rushed to the labor ward immediately. Ultimately, it took several more hours and an emergency c-section to get him out but it was an amazing experience nonetheless. He immediately peed on the doctors and nurses before being snuggled by William and my mom, who were there with me. He weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. After I was patched up we went back to my original room and introduced him to Francie, who was waiting there on the edge of her seat. It was so fun to have them all there and so exciting we are now a family of five!

Happy 1st Birthday Elsie!!!

Yes, it's been awhile since my last post but I have a REALLY good excuse. The day after I wrote that post we discovered a few spots on Freddie. Chicken pox? Noooooo, it couldn't be. IT WAS. Fast forward a few very itchy, very tired weeks later and they've both had it. Whew. 

The pox may have canceled Freddie and Elsie's joint birthday bash (meant to be last weekend) but at least we could celebrate her big day today. That's right - at 5:40pm on April 25, 2014, the biggest surprise of my life popped out. A girl! For some reason, we were absolutely convinced we were having another boy and were SHOCKED it was a girl. 

I was in labor for 3 days, most of which was spent having contractions at home and out in my favorite spot, Holyrood Park. It was painful but there were breaks, including the night before I had her when I wolfed an entire Dominos pizza (large). YUM. Margaret and William cheered me on until 4am on the morning of the 25th when we decided it was time to go to the hospital. Elsie didn't arrive for more than 12 hours later and during that time I tried pretty much every pain relief option available. Haha. Tens machine, birthing pool, gas and air and, finally, an epidural. 

Once the epidural was in (took three tries...yikes!), I relaxed and waited for our little gal to show up. We chatted with the midwife, medical student and doctor. In a bizarre turn of events, the doctor was the same woman who did my c-section with Freddie. AND, in another bizarre turn of events, the medical student just treated Freddie in the children's hospital last weekend. I was touched that he remembered Elsie's birth and even more touched that he said he almost didn't recognize me (45lbs lighter haha). 

How do I describe Elsie? Snuggly, sly, determined, sweet, fearless and feisty. Another pea in our pod, I couldn't imagine life without her. What an awesome year it's been for this little gal. We love you Elsie!!

E for Elsie.

Picking off the blueberries.

What a little 1-year-old!