Facebook is easier then my Blog!

Look at Lizzie in the background! She loves to do EVERYTHING Caleb does! And of course play with the picture frames!



It is sad when my blog gets ignored in favor of the easier, faster, and more fun Facebook!

We are all still here. Tyring to decide what to do for the Christmas holiday. Go to Ohio early and have Eric fly up there, or with Eric after school gets out, or a week after Eric has flown up there first.

All my Christmas shopping is done, I just have to wrap them all, and make some goodies and pack those. I am attempting home made peanut Brittle to give as gifts this year. I love Peanut Brittle!

Jacob is 6 months now and has entered the Clingy phase. If he is not being held he is unhappy and crying. If I am not within eye sight he is crying too! It makes for VERY annoying mornings when I have to get up and get Caleb to school in the morning!

Lizzie is still cute and growing. She loves to sleep in a bed instead of her crib so I use that as leverage to get her to do what I want. LOL sometimes it doesn't work like planned! She is smart and using complete sentences! She LOVES Christmas time too. She always says Merry Christmas in the mornings when she sees the tree, and she often says it through the day too!

Caleb is still in school for the next week then he is off for 2! He thinks math is soo easy, and he is reading fairly well. He is in the gifted program and has run into some problems that come with being gifted. But we are working to help him get through them.

Eric is still teaching at Dubiski, He loves it and hopes to work there next year! He got the yearly winter illness and is just now getting over it. It happens every year just like I start coughing every winter. Don't know what it is!

I am doing great! I am going back to school to become a Pilot. There is a 4 yr university that is offering the Aviation Logistics degree which is what I am going to do. So I am registered for my first semester at TCC, my local community college. I still qualify for the pell, so tuition is covered plus some. I am so excited. I was able to find all online classes so I still get to stay home with the kids! Total blessing.

Two Months

Two months isn't bad!!!!

Okay, pictures are of the state fair, all of us on the couch, and at the timeshare in tyler for calebs 7th birthday.

Eric is still teaching at Dubiski, and they keep asking more and more from him. He is now there until 530 on some days. But he still loves it.

I am about to go back to school. I am going to go to TCC and get all my gen. eds before I transfer to UNT for their aviation Bachelor of Science. I will have a 4 yr degree and my pilots license. I am most excited! Which tells me this is the right thing for me to do. I have not ever been excited about going to school before! I start Jan. 18 and I can't wait!

Caleb is in 1st grade. He likes it okay. He loves recess, and he is in the gifted program. He is really good at math, and he is reading pretty well. He is still very outgoing, and will talk to ANYBODY... and EVERYBODY!

Lizzie is 2 and is growing up so fast! She goes on the potty som3etimes, btu she is not quite dedicated to going all the way. I am not that dedicated to try and teach her just yet! LOL She loves to clean which I am so grateful for. And she loves to play and sing and dance. She is a little girl, and EVERYBODY thinks she is sooo cute.

Jacob is almost 5 months. He is sitting up on his own for a while now. I will start him on cereal soon I think. He is a pretty good natured baby still, and is content just being held. He is starting to grab for things especially the food I am eating.

Life is good

Soooo ... School has started again, Caleb is in First grade. He loves it too. HE is in the gifted program this year and gets 90 minutes a day of gifted teaching time.

Lizzie is still her loud, full of life self, and she has hit the terrible twos. She gets into everything, and she still finds candy from I don't know where. Anywhere and everywhere that's for sure!

Jacob is growing like a weed. He can hold his head up and is almost ready to start sitting propped up on his own.

Eric has a wonderful job at Dubiski Career Tech academy. They are really the school for him. They are all about helping the student get ready for life after school. They don't hold the kids down they lift them up as high as the kid will go. That is sooo Eric's personality, it is a breath of fresh air for him to teach there.

I am good, still myself. Maybe slightly better at house work, I would like to think so anyway.
But still pretty much the same.

Jacob Alexander Walsh

It has been a long time since I posted of course. Nobody's that surprised I am sure... Lots has been going on though that is FOR SURE!

I am going to document the birth of Jacob for myself most of all and so it might be a little more detailed then some of you want to read about... sorry. So here is the brief version:

Jacob Alexander was born June 10th 2010 at 6:30 PM, after only 2 1/2 hours of labor. I was very surprised and glad it was fast! He was 8 lb 8 oz, 19 1/2 inches long and had long dark hair. I had a successful Vaginal delivery and he was 9 days LATE! I was glad to have him out though.

I went to see a massage Therapist, Wednesday Morning, who does a massage that helps to start labor. At this point I was 8 days late and the doctor was getting anxious about the condition of the baby. He had me coming in every few days to check on the status of the baby via non stress test. So Wednesday morning I went to see Hannah, who was great! She had me lay down on her table, and she had great soft music playing, and she even had me propped up so I would not get uncomfortable. She worked on my feet and then my hands using special pressure points. Poor Eric came with me so I wouldn't have to drive myself. He just sat there for an hour poor guy. At least he had Internet on his phone so he read some newspapers and stuff...

We went home after that as we were pretty tired. That night I had a Primary Presidency meeting and I was able to clock my contractions at 20 mins apart. I wasn't sure if they were real ones or not as they weren't that painful, I could walk and talk through them very easily, and I didn't keep track of them that well so It felt like there were times they stopped. I was able to sleep that night with no interruptions so I don't' know if the contractions were there over night or not.

Thursday Morning I had another non stress test with the doctor. The contractions I was able to time again at about 20 minutes apart but sometimes not that regular, so I was still not sure they were real or not. The non stress test was okay not as good as a couple days ago but the doctor said it was fine. He did want me to go for an ultrasound to check the fluid levels to make sure they were still good. So we had lunch in which I had to drink like 6 cups of water, and drove back to the lab for the ultrasound place. After all the paperwork was filled out they called me back and took some pictures. The radiologist said the fluid levels were good but my placenta was looking aged and had some calcium spots on it. But I was still good for a few more days. I was not going to go past 2 weeks anyway so if this baby didn't come on its own by two weeks I was going to have the c-section. I was hoping the massage would work soon though!

After that we were so close to the mall, and I had a $10 off a $10 purchase so we decided to go walk around some more to see if I could get things going faster. I got a very cute shirt for .42, and then we headed out to the mall. While we walked around my contractions sped up to about 6 minutes apart but they would stop or slow down when I wasn't walking! I was very confused at this point was I in labor or not? Should I go to the hospital or not? We were done with the mall but we said a prayer to know what to do and we both felt like we shouldn't go home just yet. So we drove to a few more stores, and then just decided to go to the hospital to be checked. The worst they could say was I wasn't in labor and to go home. On the way to the hospital in the car my contractions were still at 6 minutes apart even though I wasn't walking around, but they still weren't that strong. I did notice a little increase in strength though.

When I got to the hospital, at 4 PM, I even decided to take the stairs up to the labor and delivery floor. I was still trying to get my labor going! I had to give my whole complicated story to the nurse there, and she said she would check me and had me change into the gown and hooked me up to the machine. You know the one... that tells the whole room, and sometimes even the next room over, the heart beat of the baby. As the nurse was checking me she said I was about a 3 and mostly effaced, but the baby was still pretty high, at that point I heard and felt a pop, and the nurse got a surprised look on her face. She had accidentally broken my water! Apparently my bag was bulgy and just couldn't take that one last check!

At that point my baby was going to be born one way or another soon! Well my labor definitely kicked in at that point. the contractions kicked in and got very much stronger. I also got VERY hot and sweaty! I sweated the tape off my IV and almost lost the IV altogether. The nurse called my doctor who said to give him a call when I was ready to have the c-section! The nerve of that guy! maybe he was joking I don't know, because he did show up for my delivery after all.

Anyway at that point things got moving very fast. My contractions were pretty close and very strong, they transferred me to my birthing room about 20 minutes after my water broke. They checked me when I got all situated and I was at 6, still effaced most of the way and the baby was lower but still not all the way engaged. I had to wait for most of the IV to empty and half the antibiotics as I was Strep Positive before they could give me my epidural, but I was extremely glad when about 30 minutes later they came in and gave it to me. I was sitting up for it and more and more fluid kept coming out. I soaked my entire pad while getting the epidural... I didn't know I had that much fluid still inside!

After I got the epidural I remember feeling a little light headed as the epidural kicked in, and at that point the monitor on the babies heart beat slowed WAYYY down. The nurses kicked into high gear, called for the anesthesiologist and had them give me something, they had me lay on my side, and they attached monitors directly to the babies head. After a minute or two the babies heart rate came back up again. The anesthesiologist came and checked on me a few more times after that but we were good. I remember no pain but a terrible pressure right around the babies head after the epidural kicked in. It was not too painful but I definitely did not feel nothing! After that the nurse checked how close I was and she said I was at 9, still mostly effaced and the baby was still not engaged all the way. She decided to have me push and see if that would bring the baby all the way down and put me at 10. So I got in the position and I pushed once and she said in a surprised voice... Oh, that did it! You are ready! Let me call the doctor!

The Doctor took his sweet time getting to my room... and then when he got there they took my bed apart, and I was ready to start pushing. When I was just laying in the bed I was able to feel the contractions as pressure, but when they put my legs up I was not able to feel them as well. But I was able to feel them a little so I pushed a few times, I remember my pushing this time was not as effective as it was with Lizzie. I was not able to feel my pushing muscles with this epidural like I could with Lizzie's epidural. It was very curious as I later examined the differences between the two epidurals. But I was able to push fairly well, and I only pushed about 4 contractions and little Jacob was born. Eric was able to cut the cord... which he had to cut twice to get all the way through. The nurses took him and did their thing. I did hear them ask what time it was and the nurse replied 6:30. Really! Only 2 and a half hours! It felt like longer then that! They say the more you have the faster things go... well for me it was soooo true!

After all of that I got exactly what I wanted. I had a successful vaginal birth after cesarean. I let my body get ready and my baby to tell me when he was ready to come. I stood up for myself and told my doctor what I wanted to do instead of let him drive my pregnancy. I listened to the Lord, and was patient when He told me to be patient. All that happened, even the delay, did truly happen for a reason. I am very proud of myself and I love my new baby very much. I love ALL My Babies!

Free MISD Activity

So our ISD had a free kids activity night. It was super windy but we had fun. We got free hand clappers and lizzie loved hers.

Caleb got to take a picture with the astronaut!

And play on some bounce houses. Lizzie tried to go in but it was to rough for her. She ended up leaving soon after she got in. I had a picture of her laying down in the bounce house but right as it was snapped apparantly my hair flew in the way and totally ruined the whole thing!

It was rather windy but fun. They even gave us all a hot dog meal for free!

Misc. Pictures

LIZZIE PLAYING IN A TUB SHE FOUND.

CALEB AT A SCHOOL CARNIVAL. HE LOVED IT!

CAN YOU TELL HE ENJOYED HIMSELF???

LIZZIE HAD A LITTLE FUN TOO!

All set up!

I finally feel like I got the computer set up. I hooked up the external hard drive that has most of our early pictures in it. I even downloaded the pictures from my phone! I have not done anything with Tupperware for a while. I feel bad about that, but I did get my hair cut yesterday! I chopped it off for little Alexander just like I did for Lizzie. Time is sneaking up on us fast. Just two more months before he little guy shows up! Eric has his election in the mean time with his work and taks tests for his kids, I have to work, Caleb has to go to school, and we have to fit a major room rearrange in there after the election somewhere but BEFORE the baby is born. It seems like too much to do in such a short time.

Pictures of Caleb's party

Old Post that never got posted!

This is an old post I wrote at work but never got the chance to post. Hope you like.

I know it has been a very long time since I last got on. I am dismally sorry. I just have not been able to get on. The laptops have been down, I have been at work, I have been cooking, I have been reading to Caleb. There are Lots of different excuses. Sorry!

To catch up:

Jeanne bought a timeshare, we went to use it the first time and she was offered a good deal and so she bought a second one. We went out there a couple times and enjoyed it. They have a water park we like to go to when they offer us free tickets. They have lots of other free activities we like to do as well.

Lizzie is growing up, she can now say dada, mama, diaper, kitty cat, dog, and of course shoes. She loves to wear them all the time. She is very good about cleaning up too. She found a fork on the floor and wanted to put it away in the drawer! She is almost always smiling, she is so cute. And she knows where the diapers are kept so she goes and gets one when we ask her to.

Caleb had a wonderful party! First they played around until everyone get there. Then we gave them all whips and hats to go around. Then George told the story of Cleopatra heart, the last treasure Indiana Jones needed to get. So they had to go through some obstacles. First was a cart ride down the driveway, then they had to crawl through the cardboard boxes and then find a key in the snake pit (spaghetti) without looking. At This point George was telling them the rest of what they were supposed to do, and Eric pushed the cardboard boulder behind the curtain into the mass of milling kids. One little kid was too close and got ran over, but the rest were able to turn and run from it! They Were so thrilled with that part. It was soo funny watching them all run and scream, and one little kid get run over. Then after they made it back up the driveway and had all settled down they had to jump across some pallets to make it to the swing to be able to swing across the snake pit. They LOVED that part! Then they were able to make it to the sand pit where they dug for their treasure. One big treasure had a lock on it and they all tried their keys to see who got to keep the treasure with Cleopatra’s diamond in it. Of course it was Caleb; don’t tell them it was rigged! But the other kids got their goody bags with coins and good stuff in them so they weren’t too upset.

Then they all got to go back top the table and draw and write about their adventure in their very own Journal we made for them.

The piñata finally made an exhibit! The kids all lined up and each took turns giving one swing at it. I must have made the thing super strong because everybody got three turns and it finally broke enough for the candy to come out. It was a madhouse after that! No one was very nice, but I guess I didn’t expect them to be. Then it was cake and ice cream time. We brought out the punch that had a frozen ice cube in the shape of a big skull. It looked soo cool! And the cake turned out sooo well! Pictures will just have to say it all.

Everyone had a great time! Then we opened presents, and it wasn’t very organized and they all kept helping Caleb open his presents but I figured it was okay. After the presents it was time to wind down, and we turned on the Lego Indiana Jones movie projector. We found lots of mini movies online with Lego Indiana Jones which is very age appropriate. And we projected them onto the front of our house. The kids all kind of disappeared one at a time after that with their parents. But they all LOVED their goodies, whips and hats. I think it is safe to say they all had a great time! We were so tired after that! All told I think we had 12 kids there, with some parents, and lots of family. Looking back at it I am very satisfied. I can’t think of a single way to make it better.

Eric is still teaching at Cedar Hill High School. He likes teaching high school students. He just had his evaluation and he thinks it went over VERY well. This is the big one he can use as a reference to get a better job.

Caleb is still doing well in school. He likes to read and write and is getting way better at it! He has several journals he just loves to write in. He loves to play outside with his friends. He and Eric just slept outside on the trampoline last weekend. They had fun until Caleb got bit by one to many mosquitoes and they came back inside. He battled huge welts from mosquitoes for the next day or two after that. I have to do something about him being allergic to mosquitoes worse then I am!

We went to Chuck E Cheese a while back. It was Lizzie’s first time! We wanted to get the pictures taken on the picture game they have, and we waited till the end to do it. BIG MISTAKE! She was too whiny and ruined every picture. But she did have a blast climbing on their little kid area. And we enjoyed the food of course. I like their Salad bar. But I think George had the most fun with the tokens. He kept wanting more and more! I didn’t play that many games, hardly any really, but I didn’t go for the games. I went for the kids, and the food!

Eric and George are going to Ohio for Thanksgiving break to winterize the house and take down the rotted tree in the back so it doesn’t fall on anything. He is going to miss Thanksgiving down here so we are having ours all together a week early. Tonight! I cooked half of it yesterday. And I will cook the other half tonight. I cooked the cherry cheesecakes early. I am sooo tempted by them. I can taste them now, I just wish it were for real!
As far as me for Thanksgiving. I am having one tonight, one on Tuesday for work potluck, one on Thursday lunch that work is providing, and then one Thursday night. I am going to have LOTS AND LOTS of turkey. Good thing I love it so much! I wonder if I will get sick of it. Probably not!

2009 Update

The 2009 year has been an interesting year. Time for the 1st annual Walsh Family update

Eric got a job teaching High School Physics. He enjoys working with older students where he can stimulate their interest with his sarcasm. He loves to do cool labs and is an inspiration to the other science teachers.

Jennifer got a job at the Department of Defense where she handles the Issues that involve the Vendors. She loves her job, but can’t wait to get home to the kids at the end of the day. She still bakes a little, and has gotten much better at making her French Bread. She has even made bagels, and pitas, YUM!

Caleb is in Kindergarten this year and loves it! He especially loves recess, and playing with his friends. He likes his teacher Mrs. Day, and even helped to convince her to give the kids stickers! He is so smart and learning to read and write. He has his own journal that he loves to draw and write in. This year for his 6th birthday party he had an Indiana Jones theme party. It was a lot of work, but it was very memorable for all of us!

Elizabeth is growing just like a little Princess. She has a sweet spirit and loves to help out. She will give you anything you ask for, and even pick up and put away things on the floor. She can Say Mama and Dada, Shoes, Diaper, Kitty Kat, and Dog. She loves to play with her Brother and just idolizes him. Anything he does is super funny! She has the sweetest giggle, and is very happy most of the time.

We have one last member of our family we have to write about; too bad he or she will not have anything interesting to say until June 1st, 2010. That’s right! We are expecting our third child! We are excited to add to our family again, especially Caleb. He is most excited that he will no longer have to sit in the very back of the car. This little bundle of joy has already messed up our traveling plans for the summer, but we don’t mind at all. Sorry Rach and Simon!

We Love You All!

Merry Christmas
And of Course
Happy New Year!