My BabY GiRL is GroWiNG Up!

McKenzie just seems to be getting bigger everyday, or maybe she just seems to be growing overnight because I compare her to her newborn brother. Before Taylor was born, McKenzie seemed so small, and she still is, but she is definitely taking some BIG GIRL steps now! This week she made the transition from her crib to a ToDDleR bed. We bought the bed last weekend just to give it a try and put it in her room so that she would become familiar with it. The first night after putting it together, I decided to let her try it out that night for bedtime (not really knowing what I would be getting myself into). Surprisingly she actually fell asleep like a champ. We kept the crib in her room too, for back up in case she wanted nothing to do with this new bed. That was not the case, she is completely ready for her new bed and has been taking great naps and sleeps through the night in it. She likes to show Mckay and me her "New Bed" when we are in her room. I guess it is safe to move the crib out now that she just LOVES this bed! It is so nice when the big transitions in your child's life go so smoothly...knock on wood! Now if only Potty Training would go so nicely!!

She seems so little to be out of a crib, be she is loving it!

McKenzie and her new "BIG GIRL" bed, getting ready for a nap.

Waving Goodnight!

Another funny thing about McKenzie is that whenever she says "MORE", which happens to be a lot, she always does the sign language sign for it as well. I might have done it a couple times when she was younger, but somewhere along the way she learned it and it stuck. Too bad I don't know more to teach her while she easily picks it up! I love my little McKenzie so much and am so blessed to have her in my life (that goes for all of my kids and family members).

I have not been back to church with the kids yet, due to the colds and sicknesses passing around in nursery and such. I didn't want my kids to get sick and spread it to Taylor, so we have mostly just been hanging out at home. That is why I am so surprised that everyone in the house has all been sick with something or another lately. It all started when Taylor had a pretty bad diaper rash after we first brought him home, even though I was faithfully layering on the diaper creams with every change, it still took forever to heal and it seemed like nothing was improving it. Luckily we had success after trying a few other tricks. Then I got pretty sick and have also been batteling a head cold. McKenzie is recovering from yet another ear infection and croop (is that how you spell it?). Payton has also had an eye infection. Not sure if we picked these things up from a friendly visitor, a trip to the doctor where there are other children with who knows what, or just the luck of the month of February! Mckay has managed to get by unharmed, but as far as the rest of us, it has been a tuff couple of weeks, with one thing after another. I swear that if I call or take my kids to the DOCTOR one more time...I'll be turned in to child protection services! I am happy to say that it looks like everyone is finally on the mend and hopefully it stays that way!

TaYLoR's BIG DaY!

Okay so this may be more for my own memory then for your pleasure (read only if you want to)! A week ago yesterday, I was having contractions throughout the day and that weekend. I was not in a lot of pain, I could still talk through them, do the dishes, tend to children, function pretty much normally-but they were coming pretty regularly so I was beginning to wonder if this was it. I put Mckay on alert at work, and he was calling me all day to check if he needed to come home yet or not. This time around I had Group B Strep so the Doctor told me to come in when I knew it was time so that they could give me the antibiotic for the baby. Eventually I called my mom, (who is about an hour away) to inform her, she started making her way over to my house while I grabbed a few last minute things just in case. Mckay was much more comforted knowing that at that time I was not alone, I told him that we were going to get checked at the hospital and I would let him know from there. My mom drove me to the hospital while Michelle (my sister) watched the kids. I was checked at the hospital to see if it was time to be admitted yet or not. Things were definitely happening and contractions were every 2-5 minutes or so, I was told to walk around for an hour to see if I progressed and then come back to be checked again. By this time Mckay was getting anxious at work and I told him that I had to do the "Walk of Shame" for an hour to see if it was actually time. He decided to come join me at the hospital (although he would have come earlier if I wanted, but I just was not sure it was the real thing and did not want to CRY WOLF...because I was not in a ton of pain...yet) by now it was a little after 5:00 PM. We walked around the hospital and to the cafeteria so Mckay could have some dinner if we were going to be in for a long night, of coarse I didn't have much of an appetite, so my mom a Mckay had a quick bite to eat and then we returned to get checked again. By now I was pretty sure this was it because the contractions were increasing in pain and happening more frequently. Sure enough I had progressed and was admitted to labor and delivery. While waiting they started the antibiotic in my IV and things kept progressing from there, we were watching a little TV to help pass the time, while my mom went home to tend to the kids and put them in bed. After a while I decided to get an epidural because...well you know, it can be pretty painful and my contractions were really hard by now. Mckay was relieved when I decided to, he always get so nervous when I am about to have a baby, and I can tell he worries for me and the baby. The lady came in and did the whole epidural thing, which is pretty painful as well and hard to hold still when you are having contractions at the same time. We waited for 20 minutes or so and the pain was not getting any better, the nurse said that I should have been feeling some relief by now. So she brought the lady back in and had to do a 2ND epidural, this time the baby's heart rate was struggling and the nurse had me lay down while they tried again to put it in a different part of my back. Finally it was a success and while I could still feel the contraction pressure I wasn't in as much pain as before. Shortly after the epidural, the doctor came in to check me again and pop my water. After my water was broke the antibiotic was finally finished and ten minuted later, I went from a 6 to a 10 and ready to push. Good thing they didn't pop my water earlier or I probably would not have finished the antibiotic for the baby. This time I felt so much more then in other deliveries and really felt like pushing but the doctor was not quite ready yet so I had to hold off. After my water broke it all happened so quickly and a few pushes later we had a baby boy. As soon as he was born I asked what it was and while Mckay answered, "It's a BOY", I saw the evidence myself. Taylor was born at 10:44 PM, February 9, 2009- I was supposed to be induced on the 12th, but was not due until the 18th so he was about 9 days early. He is the sweetest little boy and is already so loved by his parents and siblings. My mom brought Payton and McKenzie to meet their brother at the hospital the next morning, they were so precious and soft to their new little brother. Mckay, baby Taylor, and I were released from the hospital later that afternoon and all is going well back at home. Mckay went back to work shortly after, due to Tax Season, and my mom stayed to help for a couple days. Now I am home with the kids adjusting to THREE. I love having these experiences, there is nothing quite like being a parent all over again. Here are a few pictures of the past week:

Waiting for the big event in the labor/delivery room.

More pictures of Taylor in the hospital.

The proud PARENTS!

Daddy loves Taylor.

We are all so happy to have this new little baby in our home.

Kisses from McKenzie.

BaTh TiME (1st Bath at home)

Brotherly love!

Taylor: being smothered!

Wow, that was a lot of pictures, but lots has been going on in our household, so what can I say!!

So BLeSSed WiTH 3!!!

Many of you know by now and I have been meaning to post our latest news (blogging might just slow down now, but then again I might have more to blog about at times). We have a new addition in our family!

BABY BOY SWENSEN

Taylor Ethan Swensen

7 pounds 4 ounces
18 1/2 inches
Born Monday, February 9, 2009 @ 10:44 PM

This time around we did not find out what we were having, we already had one of each so we decided to be surprised, and it was well worth the wait!! We are happy to have another little guy running around (eventually) and for Payton to have a BROTHER! I have already heard Payton say a few times "I want to keep him", and that he wants him to share his room! Both of the kids are adjusting well to having another family member and love to go up and kiss Taylor at any given moment. I think at times when they wake up that they forgot we have a new baby and the fun starts all over, because today when Payton came downstairs he looked at the baby rocker and spotted Taylor and said "OOOHHH" like he had forgotten, but was excited at the same time! We feel so blessed to have another little one in the family and couldn't be happier. Okay...Maybe if Mckay could have taken just a little more time off, I would be a little happier. But hey-it is Tax Season, so what can I expect!! I am short on time and as you probably know, one of the kids are calling, so I'll save the other details for another post, but here are a few pictures...Lots more to come soon!

Mckay is such a great Dad. He always gets so concerned when the time comes. I love him so much and am so blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life to be the father of my children.

The kids meeting their BROTHER for the first time...instant LOVE!

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY!

Lots of LOVE to go around this VaLEnTiNE's DaY!!!