Big Sisters

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and pretty happy about it!

or at least happy about the cupcakes they made with Oma for Janie's Birth Day celebration dinner Saturday night

Lots of snuggling with their sister- and yes Janie is in there somewhere

Lounging Sunday morning

Dad and his trio

Big Sister outfits from Oma- living up to their new role

Sometimes I can't believe all three of them are ours!

notice the new improved safety rail so we can actually have furniture on our deck? Thanks Heff- Safety First… and Second!

Going Home

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Saturday morning we got Janie's 24-hour blood draw to check her bilirubin level and she passed so we were cleared to go home! Oma and Jannie took the girls to the Palo Alto Children's Museum that morning and then brought them to the hospital to visit so we were all there to pack up and head home. Maisie was having a bit of a fit as it was past her naptime by the time we got out of there - so we were those people carrying a screaming toddler out of the maternity halls, scaring all the new moms. Jannie had the girls in tattoo-style "I love MOM" outfits for me, love them Jannie ;)

We got the wagon to haul all the bags but of course the girls wanted to ride in it- then Heff had to carry Maisie so it was just Francie riding like the queen! :) Little stinker pointed at me when I walked out of the room and goes "Ahhhh- why is there still a big belly?" Thanks Francie ;)

In her new grey JanKnits and trying out the binky for the first time (the reason Maisie lost it! I better try a different kind for this kid!) and you can tell it's the third child- she is going home in her hospital issued t-shirt!

Francie had to buckle her new doll in too- this one is named "Plussy" not sure about that one. (Maisie rode with Jannie and Oma, she knew there was a binky in Jannie's car!)

Welcome home MaryJane!

Janie's Arrival

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We are so lucky to have Baby Janie home with us and can't believe how relatively smoothly things went bringing her into the world- besides the seven days overdue she made us wait to meet her!! My friend Emily's mom said my babies just like to stay in there where it's quiet since life is so busy on the outside :) We are adjusting to life with three- easy so far with so much help from our families. We are counting our blessings these days that is for sure.

Thursday night we had my parents, Oma, Mark, Sarah and cousin Clara over for dinner before we went into the hospital at 7:30pm. "Team Grandmas" Oma and Jannie took great care of the girls after we left overnight here the first night and all of them over at Jannie's house the second night! We forgot to take a family picture but here are the cousins.

I was hoping to go into labor on my own this time (breech baby c-section with Francie and then nine days over due/semi-induction with Maisie) I figured a third baby would come on her own but again I was wrong... So a week after my due date my doctor had me come in to the hospital to start an induction (since I am considered "VBAC" every time I can't be induced with the usual drugs and they do a Foley Bulb to induce which is a little archaic- TMI for the blog/my sister ;) This was the same thing we did with Maisie and Janie's birth was very similar… a little faster but still had it's ups and downs.

Heff is the best labor coach and partner I could ask for. He was and always is so supportive and sweet :) He helped me through the first 8 hours of contractions with a Foley Bulb and Pitocin this time before the epidural. Last time the Foley took 12 hours to get to 5cm and this time it only took 3 hours! But then, like last time, I was "stuck" at 5cm for a long time and they played with very low levels of pitocin but it turns out Janie had a cord wrapped around her neck so with each contraction her heart rate would drop a little. We tried changing positions on my side a lot to keep it up but it was a little scary to watch the monitors and try to stay in a position to keep her heart rate up. They had me on oxygen and were watching carefully.

Finally around noon I asked if I could sit up and her heart rate was better and she seemed to be moving in the right direction with a little gravity. After an hour I told the nurse the doctor should probably check in soon and sure enough I was 10cm and ready to go! Things happened quickly and after 20 or 30 minutes of pushing we met our beautiful baby GIRL!!!

First photos - a few minutes old!

She was just fine and got a 9 and 9 on her APGAR but because of the heart rate we had two pediatricians in the room ready to check her out, two nurses who were very good to us and five doctors who were all great. We love Stanford! They were all excited it was a "surprise" baby and everyone was placing bets. Heff stood by his girl guess and I was leaning towards boy so for the THIRD time in a row he was RIGHT and I was WRONG! How strange and unusual ;) He knows his girls!! I guess this makes us pretty likely to keep having girls- we'll take them!

Proud Dad of THREE girls

Our sweet nurse Kristin - we had her with Maisie too! We had a great nurse Susan for the first 8 hour shift and she said Kristin was in the nurse's station fighting to get our room since she remembered us from last time :) She was very supportive and calm and helped bring Janie into the world right before her shift was over!

Packed up on the gurney to head to Maternity - lots of stuff to haul. I told Heff I overpacked and he said "you think?!" ;)

We dropped Janie off at the nursery to get all checked out and cleaned up- Heff stayed with her and Jannie, Oma and her BIG SISTERS arrived to see their baby girl for the first time!

Uncle Jerry! He came to visit and helped me "set up" my room while everyone else was still with Janie in the nursery. I told him now he knows what Heff feels like when I kept saying "can you hand me this/get me that/hang this up" :) Thanks Jer!

Lots of cuddles and passing around - my two babies :)

Andrea (and Craig, isabel and Thomas) were here for the arrival too!

Jannie. Jerry and Janie :)

Dr Cisco was right over to check out all her moving pieces

as my sister commented "ouch, Janie is getting ignored for iPhones" Had to text/FB/blog it out there that Janie was here! It was so funny- after she was born we texted our moms and my sister to say it's a girl… 3 minutes later I get blown up with 12 texts saying "a GIRL!" the cyberspace waves went to South Africa within seconds to my god-daughter Claire who is there on a semester exchange and she posted it to my Facebook- crazy how fast word gets out now! We made everyone wait to hear the name until we could tell them and my dad in person.

my girls-

First Family Photo- the girls were SO cute meeting Janie! I have a fun video to post of Francie and Janie and Maisie just loves to "hold, hold!"

Welcome New Baby Girl Heffernan

We love you so much already!

Hospital Camp

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I always love my hospital stay :) I love being a maternity patient and watching all the medical stuff around me- especially when I get to take home a beautiful baby at the end! This is what I've been doing:

Sitting on my bed pushing buttons to turn on lights/TV/music and holding this little person

Checking out all the nice messages everyone is leaving us on Facebook and the blog (thanks!) and having my "afternoon tea service" for the new moms in Maternity at Stanford.

My husband has hardly complained about his "bed" - he's engrossed in a good book and not even checking his blackberry.

But given the sleeping accommodations are a little rough for him and I have two girls waiting at home… my 4 nights with Francie then 2 nights with Maisie has turned into 24 hours in the hospital with Janie. We're out!

Family of FIVE!

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Heff and his little harem of girls :) When Janie was born and we heard "It's a GIRL!" Heff said - "Three girls is awesome!" We are loving our time with Janie- the girls were so cute when they met her. They both got their own dolls and jumped right on the bed with me. There was a little scuff over who got to hold the baby first- Maisie pouted. But Francie took her turn quickly and then Maisie relished in feeling like a big sister and didn't want to give up Baby Janie. I miss my big girls but they are in very good hands with Oma AND Jannie. Here are a few more shots of the girls meeting their sister!

The Biggest Sister loving her new role of course

Maisie and Janie

Just hanging out with our babies :)

Nothing to Report!

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No labor- no baby. Maybe holding out for Friday February 18 after all? We had a fun day though, the girls played with Emmy and went to stomp at Shoup Park in the morning and I met Emily, Anne and Kelly for girls lunch out at Mayfield Cafe then did some baby shopping at Town & Country and got a new diaper bag I am in love with at Mom's The Word. It was a crazy stormy day- lots of rain then the sun would come out for an hour or two. Another day of waiting for a baby to come tomorrow... or maybe not?!


*And these pictures were from last week- we haven't had furniture out on the deck off the kitchen since Maisie is such a climber and it's a long way down from here. But this weekend Heff built a safety rail "addition" to the gazebo part of the deck and added 17 inches of height to keep the monsters in. I'll have to take a picture- he did such a great job making it look good and now we have the couches and outdoor furniture back... just in time for the rain I guess!

and the girls have been so "helpful"... "Look Mom! We cleaned out all the cubbies for you!" OHHH thanks ladies :)

Ready for You Baby

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It's about time but our bags are finally packed, baby clothes are washed and ready, tiny diapers are lined up and plans for the girls have been made (sorry about the 2 page novel on bedtime and nap routines Oma, Jannie and Em). A nursery area is all set up in our room (Jannie made a new set of bumpers and sheets for round three) and we are ready to meet you Baby Heff! When are you going to decide to make your appearance?!

These big sisters keep knocking on my belly and asking you to come out! Now be a good third child and listen to your sisters :)

Waiting and Waiting

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These days/weeks waiting for a baby are so much fun but such torture! (kind of like my not-so-sweet-and-innocnet little stinker's faces when I asked them to smile nicely for Emmy:)

It really is a fun time I always look back on and want to do all over again- thinking every twitch could mean a baby is coming and knowing you get to meet this new little baby any minute! But it's also so hard not to be able to plan anything, to feel like you've been waiting forever and to just be done with being pregnant and kind of uncomfortable. But it's all worth it in the end and I'll try to be patient (not one of my strong points :)

I go to the hospital 1-2 times a week for a Non-Stress Test (since my OB is part of the high-risk clinic so he's used to being extra cautious) to check out the baby and see how it's heart rate/fluid levels etc are. I know the ladies well and every time it's the same "baby looks good, you look fine, see ya next time" which I know is great news but it would be nice to have some action already! I was reading People magazine last week getting my haircut and my horoscope said "This is a great week to organize your life, as you will soon be busy with a remarkable person." I'm organized and ready to meet you baby!

Heff's birthday came and went so we're all clear for a 15, 16, 17 or 18 baby!

Happy 39th Birthday Heff!

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Heff kind of gets jipped every year on his birthday- since it's Valentine's Day! Last year we were in LA for Thomas' baptism and this year he kind of got overshadowed by "waiting for a baby"- so we tried to treat him like the birthday boy all weekend and then Sunday night we had in impromptu party at our house with my parents and Uncle Jerry (just in case we were otherwise occupied tonight but so far no such luck). The girls and I decorated while Heff was on a run, Jannie and Grampa brought really yummy lamb chops and Francie lead the charge on cupcakes for dessert.

Francie wrote "DAD" (connecting some dots :) all by herself

We made Heff a Troopy pinata! (well they had a army jeep at Target we took the tissue paper off and re-did- I was not that ambitions to paper mache a car shaped pinata) and TG for my 25,000 pieces of tissue paper for last minute decorations

Thanks for all the help France! and smiling at the camera for once

instead of the usual faces I get:

Francie found a "Cakes for Kids Book" and insisted Heff pick out a cake she was going to make for him right then and there. "I'm SERIOUS Dad- I'm going to make it look just like this rocket ship." She made Uncle Jerry ready the "interstructions" and then barked orders- "Jannie, turn on the oven for 350!" "Mom, I need a baking pan!" Brian finally said someone has to tell her the rocket ship isn't happening. We settled for cupcakes instead.

Maisie even got to help

They did almost everything themselves thanks to some easy recipe we found with 6 ingredients and 3 steps. The batter was more like sugar cookies than cupcakes but served as an appetizer (the dough bowl) and the cupcakes didn't need any frosting

time for presents!

big helpers

and cupcakes- sort of, no frosting :)

Delivered in one piece without burning anything down- impressive with all that tissue paper in her way :)

Make a wish Daddy! (and for your wife's sake you better have wished for this baby to arrive SOON!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVE - WE LOVE YOU DADDY!

Francie's First Vaulting Lesson

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This morning we went out to Woodside for the Woodside Vaulters Tiny Tots class! I was a vaulter growing up and although I get made fun of a LOT by my brothers/friends/husband for spending my pre-teen and teenage years in a spandex unitard doing gymnastics on horseback- I loved the sport, competitions and being part of a team. Oma's newest barn addition is a Vaulting horse so Francie has to learn the moves to teach her cousins in Red Bluff- we've already got an entire vaulting team and a few alternates in kids! I was really proud of Francie and so was her dad- she jumped right into the class and LOVED it.

Warming up with the other tiny tots

Sommersaults on the mat

Francie's turn at the walk!

approaching Izzy the Trot Horse

Grab on to the leg straps when you can't yet reach the handles

and on you go!

Feeling proud of herself

Bouncing around on Izzy at a trot!

Nothing to this sitting thing :)

And up on her knees

even one handed!

Brave girl

Big smiles when she passes Mom, Dad and Maisie watching from the sidelines

and making sure we're still watching half way around the ring

Big kids in the background practicing with their team (Francie asked when she could try their horse) The team events have 8 vaulters doing a choreographed routine on a horse with 1-3 people on the horse for a five minutes.

My team in 1996 was the first to perform a "stand on stand" in the US in competition- but here is a video clip from 2008 and they've gotten even more daring since then!

Sideseat practicing for the "windmill" compulsory

all done- great job France! You make your mom, Oma and Jannie (who loved the vaulting years :) very proud

Vaulting shoes on the list next

Fancy pony barrel for practicing!

Someday she'll stand on the horse! I started Vaulting in 8th grade and went for six months carpooling with a friend for two hour practices where we learned to tack up the horse, stretch, practice, then take care of the horses and barn chores after- so my mom would drop my off or pick up but was never really sure what we were doing. At the first competition Jannie told the other mom "I just saw some girl standing on a horse!" and the mom told her- "uh, yeah Janet that's what Mary and Dana do too." My parents didn't know what I had gotten them into :)

Poor Maisie kept asking "I ride?!" but she'll have to wait until she's 2. She got some barrel action though

and for Jannie and Oma- a short video of Francie doing the "riding seat" at the trot

Off to untack the horse and give her treats

Brushing her down and picking hooves

and what class is complete without a sticker for good behavior!? Francie made sure to ask if her sister could have one too when she saw they were "Jessie" (Toy Story) Maisie's favorite

No Baby Yet

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Well we missed a 2-11-2011 baby! Today was my due date (as you can see on my iPhone ap) and my lucky number :) but I'll take this baby whenever it decides to make it's appearance. I was up at 1am this morning with contractions and thought for sure we would be in labor today- I was wide awake until 5am but then they stopped and I reluctantly went back to sleep.

We had a "Due Date" fun lunch out with Emily, Lucy, Christian, Summer and the girls at Vida. Heff came by to grab lunch too and then took the girls to BB so I could finish my spicy sausage couscous (and glass of champagne!) in peace.

Still pregnant Mom

and Francie took this picture with my iPhone (I love when I check my pictures and find these random shots of me or whatever she takes on there- almost as much of the video she took of me sleeping one morning- delete!) brushing my teeth before going to bed on 2-11.

Maybe an 18th birthday like Francie and Maisie will be but a week feels awfully far away! Brian's birthday is Monday February 14, but having your birthday on Valentines Day and sharing it with your child means he'd lose any part of it being his day :)

Did you guess yet!?

Hidden Villa

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Tuesday after naps we didn't have much planned so at the last minute we called Jannie, packed up and drove out to Hidden Villa to check out the new baby animals. It's so nice that it is so close to our house now, just a few minutes up El Monte and a $5 parking fee for a whole afternoon of fun. We practically had the whole place to ourselves and wore the girls out before we came home for dinner with Dad. Thanks for coming with us Jannie!

Off to find animals

First a bunch of brand new baby lambs

Little Baby Piggies

Francie saw one of the little pigs trying to nurse the big momma and she said "Mom, what do you think that piggy is saying to it's mom?" and I said "Um probably that it wants some milk." and she said "Well I think it is saying 'Mom, your udders are dirty." HA! But she was right- they were gross

Looking in on Cleo and MAISY the cows! (Maisie carried her cowgirl hat that is way too small for her head) around the entire time)

Found the chickens and one rooster-

Jannie and Maisie walking out of the piggy barn- Maisie wanted to feed the baby pigs some gross old hay she found on the ground all the way across the field and wouldn't stop until she did

Francie says "Look Mom I'm like a sloth!"

Maisie dancing in the sunlight

Francie climbing trees with a little help from Jannie

and Maisie had to have a turn

Happy girl

Sister love on Fanny Bridge

Sometimes the love is a little one sided

an outtake of my attempt to get a picture of Jannie and the girls

How many stomachs do cows have?!?

Francie playing waitress in the garden fort- serving Jannie and Maisie pretend food for tips (genius France :)

too much fun!