Avah's first day of Pre-K 3

 Ready or not here she comes :-)

 Because she ALWAYS has to pose.

 Almost 4 where has the time gone.

 This was her idea :-)

Avah never hesitates and jumped right into making something!

She was a little disappointed that Moira wasn't there though.

To say that Avah loves school would be an understatement.  She sings at the top of her little lungs in the morning when it is her turn to go to school.  All summer she asked "Mommy What do I have today" and I always had to tell her that school was out.  She would actually cry. So Avah was so ready to go to school.  She has a wonderful day and loves her new teachers Mrs. hughes and Mrs. Malloy.

Happy 6th Birthday

 Birthday batter pancakes! A new Welch tradition

 Loving on your brother! Because you just can't resist him!

 Christian and Keagan!

 A hiking we will go!

 Super cook campfire cake!

Hmm not so sure this was a good idea with all of the boys :-)

Happy 6th Birthday Christian.  You have turned into such a wonderful 6 year old.

The six things I love about you...
1. You are smart
2. You are so forgiving
3. Your love for building amazing things with your legos always impresses me.
4. You are so tenderhearted
5. How brave you are.  (at your 6 year apt. when you got shots you told me that everything was going to be okay and you were the one who was getting the shots :-)) Thank you for being brave for mommy.
6. How you have turned into such a wonderful BIG brother.  The love you have for your little brother melts my heart.

Kindergarten!!

I cannot believe that my youngest has started Kindergarten.  A week before school we received a letter that there was no teacher for the 5th Kindergarten class at Westridge.  I of course completely started to freak out instead of trusting in God.  I prayed and prayed the night before orientation that they would have something figured out for our kids.  Of course the big man always has a plan.  Christian ended up getting a teacher who had just left St. Matthew's. We are so thankful for Mrs. Newland.  Christian is thrilled. He told me that the lunch room stinks and that he loves going to the computer lab for special.  He is loving school but the days are long and by the time he gets home he just wants to rest.  Avah misses him a little but I think she is enjoying it just being her and Roman.  I on the other hand really do miss Christian.  He is such a big help weither it was playing with his little sister, helping with the dishes or making Roman smile. Also, with a newborn getting the kids to school the first week was a huge challenge.  I really struggled with getting everyone in the car and getting over the fact that I was spoiled with St. Matthew's drop off.  I was determined to tell everyone how bad it was but then I realized how silly that was and that I couldn't change it.  Colin was so sweet and got off of work the entire first week to be home when Christian got off and even picked him up for me.  It didn't help that I was really sick with mastitis but my hubby stepped up and took care of me and the kids. A mom from St. Matthew's and I have worked out a system that I think will work really well and I have been much better about getting Christian out this week.  Now that we have figured out a schedule I can handle this!

Roman Eli Welch

 Evil contractions

 Ready now

 Such a sweet moment

 Colin and Roman

Nothing like Daddy's love.

On July 20th of 2012 I gave birth to the most beautiful baby boy! So here is the birthing story before I forget because at the moment I am consumed by sleepless nights, crazy kiddos and poopy diapers. On July 19th there was a really bad storm and the lighting woke me up.  After I went up to bed something just did not feel right.  The contractions were coming on stronger and faster and for a moment I thought this was it.   I knew days before that I needed to have my bags packed and to be ready but for some reason that slipped my mind.  After trying for an hour to get the contractions to stop I finally woke Colin up and we called Mariah.  This was going to be it.  We frantically grabbed our bags and ran for the door(literally) with the exception of Colin running back to the door several times. Mariah was very gracious and spent the night with the kiddos and then took them back to her place in the morning.  Once we got the hospital Dr. Couret was on call.  She was one of the Dr.'s that I had wanted which was awesome.  The contractions were still going but were not as strong but she decided to move us to a room since I was already 2 cm dialated.  After we were admitted I felt much better about going in.  I could not believe that this was it.  I labored for the rest of the night and then in the morning I opted for the epidural and they started the pitocin.  Once I got the epidural it was smooth sailing from there or should I say quick sailing.  My Dr. had two surgery's that morning.  She went to one came back and nothing had happened so she broke my water thinking that she would have enough time to deliver him after and little did we know she DID NOT.  After they broke my water she left and then I felt the sensation of something moving down i.e. Roman.  I asked Colin to look down there and sure enough there was his HEAD already out with no Dr. in the room.  Thank the Lord that Dr. Emery the Dr. that I  had seen when I went into preterm labor was walking through the halls she literally walked in and the nurses were yelling at her to get ready that he was coming out.  1 push later and there he was my sweet little boy.  With my two previous children I didn't bond right away.  I was 21 with Christian and scared to death and he pooped on the Dr. so they took him right away.  With Avah it just didn't happen but with this sweet guy it did.  They left him on me for a good 10 or 15 minutes and it was the most amazing feeling.  I cry just thinking about it.  Finally I could have one of those moments.  The feeling of holding this child for the first time was always what I had dreamed of.  Roman weighed in at 7lbs even and was 20 and a half inches long.  He has been such a wonderful addition to our family and his brother and sister were so excited to hold him and love on him.  There was only one person that ever told me that everything would be okay with having 3 kids and that he would just fit right into the family.  She was so right and I am just so thankful that she said it. We are now at 3 weeks and we are enjoying our time with our sweet boy! Thank you to everyone one who has brought us a meal and helped out with the children we can not thank you enough ask Cory i've already sent her two thank you notes for the same meal :-)

27th Birthday!

I cannot believe I am 27 now with another child on the way.  This last past year has been awesome and has been filled with ups and downs.  We celebrated my birthday this year in Clifton at the general store and then went over to Peterson's for ice cream.  I highly recommend their praline shake! It was awesome! The best part about our diner was that the kids got to see the VRE pass through the town.  Christian was beyond excited when he got to see the train in action.  My birthday was awesome! I even got a new 50mm lens! I cannot wait to torture baby boy with it :-)

Swim Kids Swim Camp!

This week Christian started swim camp at Swim Kids.  He LOVES it. It has been almost two years since Christian has done swim so he has a lot of catching up to do.  With another child on the way we thought it was important for our kids to be able to swim alone with out us.  I really enjoyed watching him last night!

Baby Shower!

 The best shower food I have ever had!

 Doughnuts lanterns.

 The sweetest wreath! Thanks to Mariah.

 Me and my besties!

 Me and my MIL.

Thanks to all of my wonderful friends who showered doughnut and I.  The shower was gorgeous and I could have not asked for anything else.

31 weeks!

A sweet and dear friend offered to take a couple of maternity shots for me while I was pregnant.  I am so blessed to have these because every week is a game of will he still be in there or not. Also, how could I possibly take pictures of myself lol.  We had a blast and laughed most of the time.  It's awesome to be on the other side of the camera for a change.  I have had several contractions since these pictures were taken and we are still just trying to make it to 34 weeks.  A huge praise! The baby's cyst are all gone.  That was the longest ultra-sound apt. of my life.  They were an hour behind of course! The one day that I just wanted it to go quickly. We are also so thankful that both of Colin's parent's have been able to come up and help see us through the rest of this pregnancy.  Even though they live so far away they have made every effort to help us out.  I cannot tell Mr. Jim(Colin's dad) enough how my I appreciate him and how much he feels like my own dad now.  He is truly a godly man and has been such a huge part of our lives.  Now we just wait until 34 weeks and see what happens.  Oh and maids ROCK.  After my house was cleaned I walked around for an hour staring at the house.  Those women were my angels that day!

Avah's first swim lesson!

Avah just finished school and since we had to cancel our summer vacation plans I decided to sign the kids up for swim lessons.  She had a blast.  She did we and got to pick out of the treasure chest today but she is so much more timid than Christian was.  It's amazing how your children can be so different. Loved watching my sweet girl today!

Pre term labor.

I figured it would just be easier to share what happened last week via the blog then having to get on the phone another 25 times and re-telling the story.  On Thursday I had a pretty low key day and was sitting at the computer when the contractions started.  They were about 5 minutes apart and were really strong.  Strong enough to give me the chills and make me nauseated.  I knew that something was wrong so I called Colin and told him as soon as he got home we had to go in especially if they didn't stop.  Well they didn't.  We headed down to labor and delivery and he dropped me off and I was sent up to triage to be monitored.  Sure enough there they were... way to early.  I was given two bags of fluids which didn't stop them because I told him I wasn't dehydrated to begin with!  The nurse that was seeing over me had the belts on wrong and for 40 minutes they were not showing up on the monitor but I could def. feel them.  When they switched shifts my new nurse(who was awesome) saw them right away.  I have given two shots of Tributaline one in each arm and then one steriod shot in the bum(which hurts like h**).  The next day was Colin's birthday and I was told that I Would have to go back in to be monitored for twenty minutes and get another shot (ouch again).  I was put on bed rest (ugh that word makes me cringe).  Really bed rest with two other children in the house is seriously just some kind of joke.  The Dr. who saw me in the hospital was an on call Dr.  so they said she was super conservative.  I am going in for a follow up on Wednesday to see if the bed rest will be lifted.  On a much sadder note we had to cancel our beach trip for this year.  I don't know what was harder hearing it from the Dr. or telling the kids that we couldn't go.  We look forward to our trip at my moms every year and it was pretty devastating but after being slapped in the face by God he knows where I should be.  At home trying to keep this baby in me for as long as possible.  Sometimes our schedule is not his schedule and I realized I just needed to let go and let him be in control.  So hopefully our little guy stays in at least until 34 weeks or later.

Butterfly Garden!

http://www.amazon.com/Insect-Lore-Live-Butterfly-Garden/dp/B00000ISC5

 Ready to release her friends!

 We put a little honey on Christian's finger so the butterfly would stay before 

taking off!

 One last good bye!

This kids LOVED this project.  I've never been to fond of pets but I actually enjoyed doing this project with the kids as well and wanted to share our little adventure with Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Moe and Lary! The kids picked the names lol.  They all lived and they all made it through the entire cycle.  Each day the kids would come running down the stairs to see if their pets had grown! I will def. be doing this again next year with the kids.

28 weeks!

Sunday marked 28 weeks of pregnancy. Hello Last trimester!  Since the Dr.'s have put me on medication to control the hives and itching it has been wonderful.  I have been experiencing some Braxton hicks contractions every now and then but i'll take those any day over constant itching.  We still don't have a name but I know that God will show us the way(hopefully before we get the hospital) because in all reality he already knows his name! The kid's are still loving on this kid like he has already made it into the world. Hopefully Avah will be okay with him joining our family.  He is starting to get really strong with his kicks and punches! I have enjoyed this go round being pregnant a little more knowing that he might be our Last addition to our family :-)

April's almost over.

Just when I was really starting to enjoy this third pregnancy I was literally knocked off of my feet. On Easter Sunday I woke and felt itchy but didn't think anything of it. I told Colin that maybe he had brought something home with him from camping(we both laughed)! I had no idea that on Monday I would look like the picture above. It is and was so awful. The itching starts from under the skin in patches and then just spreads. If I scratch it I induce hives all over my body. I have had it on my stomach, legs, arms and back. I made an Apt with a dermatologist to see if what I had was called PUPPS. The dermatologist I went to was not my regular one because I wanted someone closer to where we live. He looked at me for five minutes and told me it was PUPPS. I just didn't feel good about the visit and wanted to get a second opinion from my regular doctor. A couple of days later I was having contractions which really scared me because I was only 25 weeks. They eventually went away and I fell asleep. I called my dermatologist and made the apt for Wednesday. On Wednesday while driving to the dermatologist I got contractions again. SCARY! My mom called and asked me to be tested for cholestatsis. The test results took five days and came back negative. The waiting was awful as is the unknown. I am not going to lie I am super excited that the baby will be okay but am sad because I still don't have an answer or a cure. I'm just trying to live one day at a time and pray that God gives me some answers or better yet just makes it go away. Today I have NEVER been thankful for 9 straight hours of no itching.