My 4 Little Pickles: April 2008

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Back from my convention!!!

WOW- Everything went well. Even though we had only 3 1/2 months to plan this sucker. Talk about stressful. We had some small bumps but it was a great convention! I was very surprised about Opryland. I liked it. I was there for about a week and a half.

I was busy from the time I got there to the time I left. I did pretty well for being 6 months pregnant. I met some GREAT people. My CSM and my Catering guy ROCKED!!!! And of course their support staff.

A couple of highlights at the convention. We got massages at the spa... I LOVED THAT!! Total worth it! I didn't get to see Nashville but I did eat my birthday dinner at the stockyard. YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They even came to the hotel to pick you up. I didn't even get to part take in going to Cooter's restaurant.. Yes that's right.. Cooter himself from Dukes of Hazzard has a restaurant there. And the General Lee was outside and you could have your picture taken. I really don't think I would have been able to get in and out of the car. I did have a member take a picture in it and send it to me... It was funny!!!

The Convention Team at the Stockard.
Vanessa, Deborah, Cori and Me :-)

I did miss the family. Abbster's talking up a storm. She's definitely not a baby anymore. Emma is definitely 5.. HOLY COW!!!! Gary did pretty well for being a single dad. He had a routine down. Kind of funny how that happens. "So, you don't need me huh?" His response "NO I need you!" I was like you need the extra pair of hands. :)

We are going to New Orleans next year.. This time it should be good.... We will actually have a whole year to plan. :) YAY!!!!

The Pickles

Gary - we met online back in 1998. He moved down here from Connecticut in 1999. He asked me to marry him at the Jefferson Memorial. Got married September 30, 2000. (love the year because we will always remember how many years we've been married) He's my best friend, partner in crime, loves to make me laugh and all around GREAT guy!

Emma - was born on March 20, 2003. She was 9 pounds 5 oz., 20 inches long. She was in the NICU for the first week of her life. She was showing signs of an infection. So, they decided to keep her there for a week. I felt like the worst mom ever. I know it wasn't my fault that she was in there, but I just felt helpless. She needed to be home with us. That week was the hardest week of my life. I wanted to leave the hospital with a baby.
Now she's a healthy, talkative, helpful, independent, and determined 6 year old.

Abby - was born on June 26, 2006. She was 7 pounds 8oz., 21 inches long. Her birth was completely "normal". I was scheduled for a C-Section. Of course, we decide to have her on the one day that floods DC and the doctor was late.. WAY late... She was suppose to be here at 8am... Didn't arrive until about 11:20 am. Needless to say Abbster was not happy.. She was hungry and cranky when she came out. It was funny because the nurse handed her to my husband. He didn't know what to do.. He was trying to comfort me and hold the baby at the same time. It was a totally different experience. The best thing was that my dad and mom got to see Abbster about 15 minutes after she was born. I know they will remember that for a long time. My dad still talks about that moment.

Lily - was born July 11, 2008. She was 6 pound 5 oz., 20 inches long. She was a little early. Her due date was on Gary's birthday August 1. I had been at work that day. My boss and co-workers took me out to lunch as a baby shower thing. We decided to walk the 5 blocks to the restaurant. I was good going there but on the way back I was experiencing some bad back labor. I decided to leave early. Came home called the doctor and they told me to come in. We had picked out the name but could decided on a middle name. So, when we went into the OR we had this discussion with the doctor and nurses. It was crazy. We knew we wanted to name her Lily but the middle name. I wanted Ann (my middle name) and Gary said if we did that, just call her Lillian. I'm like NO. She's not 75. Soon after that Lily was born 7/11/08 around 2 am. So, we decided on Lily Eva. (Eva from Gary's great grandma)

Tadeusz - was born June 10, 2009. He was 6 pounds 6 oz. 20 inches long. He was WAY early! He was definitely a HUGE surprise and blessing. Before we could think about having number 4, I was already pregnant with him. So, this was a totally different pregnancy from the beginning. I craved salty and spicy things. The day he was born, I was getting things ready for Abigail's 3rd birthday. Doing a little shopping. I met Gary for lunch. I noticed I was spotting a little bit in the morning. I didn't eat very much at lunch because I was SO uncomfortable. I finished my shopping and came home and was having come contractions. Gary called me to see how I was doing. I decided I should call the doctor because I was high risk and this was my 4 kid. So, they told me to come to the hospital. I called Gary and he came home. I had everything packed already. So, away we went. Still didn't have a name. Got to the hospital and I was having some contractions. The doctor decided we would go in and take him out. This was around 7 pm. Good thing Gary went to get something to eat. So, Tadeusz Joseph was born that night. Pretty quick actually. We called everyone around 9 pm. He was in the NICU for about a week. He was having some issues breathing at first.