First for the pictures... : )
Here she is still at the hospital. Born October 28th at 1:09pm. Weight: 6lbs 14oz, Height: 20". She is really tiny.
Mommy and baby Leah.
Our growing family, all six of us. I can't believe there are six of us already. We now have four children three and under. I would have never thought it possible if someone told me we would have this many children by now.
Marilyn. She was with us with three of the four children. She is a wonderful lady and we hope she'll be coming to our home for a visit soon. She has her beautiful, black horse next door to us on our neighbor's property. She just loves her. We love how wonderful she is to see each year when we return for care with another labor and postpartum care. Lovely, lovely lady.
Another picture of Leah. Almost like the first one but a different pose. : ) We think she's pretty!
Our story: On the morning of October 28th I got out of bed and found I was bleeding again. I had been bleeding throughout this pregnancy and though I had had several ultrasounds, there was no appearance of a separation of the placenta. I went in for my nearly 39 week appointment I had scheduled that morning at 10:00 and had an ultrasound to see if she was head down. I mentioned to the ultrasound technician that I was bleeding again and could she please check the placenta. She quickly found a separation from where my scar was in the front from a c-section in 2006 and called a couple of doctors in for confirmation. They confirmed and shared that I needed to get up to labor and delivery for a c-section right away. She shared that once it starts to separate from the womb, it's like a cloth tearing... it can tear away pretty quickly and we could lose Leah or I could even possibly die due to blood loss (though rare today). I called my husband and he made arrangements for the children to come to the hospital.
Once in labor and delivery they wanted to get me in the operating room quickly. I discussed with the doctor about the spinal not working in 2006 and how terrified I was about it not working again. I've also had two epidurals that didn't take as well. She talked to the anesthesiologist and when the anesthesiologist came in she immediately shared they would have no problem giving me a general to put me out completely providing the circumstances. The only thing is my husband couldn't be in the room with me then. I was okay with that as I knew I would see him and Leah when I woke up. I couldn't believe we were going to see our baby for the first time so soon and this day.
I woke up extremely groggy of course and remember seeing my husband and Leah when they wheeled me to my room. Matthew was holding her and feeding her a bottle. She was so pretty like our other children. She looked and still does look a lot like Hannah to us. Marilyn helped me a lot through the next few days in the hospital and Leah started nursing well. Much of last week is a blur to me as I've been on pain medication but I'm recovering very well compared to my c-section in 2006 and we are already getting a little back on our comfortable schedule at home... two weeks earlier than we would have ever expected. Leah is a week old today and we are all loving her. Little Matthew is just starting to come up to her lately and wants to touch her head. Of course he being a boy wants to pat her kind of hard on the head. Elisabeth and Hannah love getting little things for me, her blanket, a towel or anything I forget when I am nursing her. They are doing really well for having a new baby here. I love them all. They are all such a blessing to us. I can't wait to see what this next year brings forth from finding out who Leah is more and more to looking forward to the excitement of wanting to be pregnant again.
So, welcome to this world little Leah. We hope to provide a good start in life for you. We know things are a little noisier here at the Geraci household than when your earlier siblings were born. But, it's a good noisy... most of the time. ; )
Elisabeth is so excited to be holding Leah. She cried when I had to take her away after a while.
Elisabeth still looks like such a baby here herself.
Such a pretty picture. Matthew heard from the Lord after Elisabeth was born that she would bear many children. I see her nurturing side come out many a times and think about that.
You can see he isn't too little here. I had trouble feeding him a bottle in later pregnancy. You can see why. I'm just starting to feed him again now that I'm recovering from my c-section.
You big boy. I can't believe you fit in momma's belly a year ago!
This picture I took this morning. November 17th. His birthday was on November 14th. It was a glorious day, labor and birth I will never forget. I walked around in the sun for 4 hours near the hospital to make sure I was in labor. I kept talking to my husband on the phone to let him know about the progress. I was so excited! He called for childcare and came to meet me at the hospital when I was 5cm and getting some good pain. He was so big when he was born, we couldn't help but be proud of our boy.
Here's our little softie. I always shared with Matthew that our son would probably be the most "wump womp", even more than the girls. And he is! But, I love his tender heart. Now I know why some are "momma's boy". Though I will let him become a man too one day. : ) You'll find me praying and filled with worry when Matthew teaches our son how to cut wood or chop the head off of a turkey.
Standing but not walking yet. I'm in no hurry.
Matthew sitting quietly. I love this picture.
Birthday boy and his cupcake.
He's having fun with his cupcake.
More fun!
Just look at that mischievious expression on his face!
Matthew didn't eat much of his birthday cupcake but he sure did have fun with it! I guess that's all that matters. : ) Happy birthday my son. I love you so very much.
Here he is with his momma not too many weeks after his birth. I miss his first year already dearly. It went too quick. I shed a lot of tears this past week. A lot. Of all the children I didn't want him to get any older. I wish I could keep him between 4 and 7 months old for life. I'd tote him with me everywhere and he'd be such a joy to me. But, I guess God intends for our little ones to grow up. I pray I can savor their babyhood and childhood moment by moment so much more. It seems the moments get lost in dishes, diapers and daily work. I'm far from it and far from where I want to be there. It is hard having lots of little ones. Please pray that we continue to mature that we can look back and know that we have done well and more so be pleasing to the Lord.
Here she is still at the hospital. Born October 28th at 1:09pm. Weight: 6lbs 14oz, Height: 20". She is really tiny.
Mommy and baby Leah.
Our growing family, all six of us. I can't believe there are six of us already. We now have four children three and under. I would have never thought it possible if someone told me we would have this many children by now.
Marilyn. She was with us with three of the four children. She is a wonderful lady and we hope she'll be coming to our home for a visit soon. She has her beautiful, black horse next door to us on our neighbor's property. She just loves her. We love how wonderful she is to see each year when we return for care with another labor and postpartum care. Lovely, lovely lady.
Here is my favorite turkey. He is always the first to come near us, to puff all out, has straight legs for reproducing and is one of our largest of the three largest toms. I've just always liked him. So, we are going to keep this one for reproduction purposes to three of our hens.
Here are a couple or more pictures of this big guy.
Can you tell the difference between a hen turkey and a tom turkey?
Here I rolled out some dough that I made earlier that day. When I first started making pizza a couple of years ago, I sure had trouble rolling out the dough and getting it on the pizza pan.
I usually just heat up some tomato paste with olive oil and Italian herbs on the stove for my pizza sauce. That way I can get it to the consistency I like. I like to slather the sauce on the sides of the crust too.
Added cheese. I received a large hole type cheese grater from Matthew's mother a couple of years ago. It saves me time when shredding cheese for pizza.
Lots and lots of mushrooms. Yummy!
Next, I added green peppers, black olives, fresh garlic and onions. I then cooked it up and added fresh basil, tomatoes and topped it with parmesan cheese. Sorry, the cooked picture just didn't turn out but you'll have to trust me, it was delicious! We had no problems not having the meat on it this time.
Here is our first turkey we butchered out of our flock. My husband picked out a smaller one and he could barely fit in the pan. I don't know what we're going to do when he butchers one of our big boys. We raised the White Broad Breasted turkeys this year as they do not show any pin feathers and come out looking really clean as you can see for yourself. My husband does a wonderful job cleaning them. He just made a stainless steel table for the rest of the birds he will be butchering. I will try to get a few somewhat clean looking pictures of the procedure again this year (depending on when this baby will be born).
These are just a few of what we bagged up to freeze for the winter.
They are just as rich and green as the picture here.
Oh, how this year with Matthew went fast. Emotions well up in me that it went so fast and my baby is fast becoming a toddler. I have always wanted a son and God gave me such a beautiful child in heart and beautiful to watch him too. I sometimes can see him at the age of five or eight already. I can't wait... to see him running through the yard or fields. I will so much enjoy watching him grow through his childhood and love that I get to be the loving mom he needs to help him develop into a good, young man one day. I believe a son really needs a good mother while a daughter really needs a good father. Oh Matthew, I will always cherish you as my little boy. I know it will go too fast so all I can do is love you each day. I'm so glad the Lord brought you into our lives. We love you so very much son.
All innocent looking and ready to go.
What's going on back there?
Wow, this is neat stuff. I love the noise daddy's toy makes.
This isn't too bad!
All done and given back to mom. He was a good boy and did very good for his first haircut. I'm glad the change wasn't too drastic. Daddy did a great job!
