Welcome, David Henry Paulsen

This is Ryan's favorite Picture so far

He looks so relaxed.

These two pictures were taken on Sunday June 23,
just after he was born

David with Grandpa Steed

Our Precious baby made a rather dramatic entrance into this world. When I was about 19 weeks I had an ultrasound and they found out that my placenta was covering the cervix. They hoped that it would move up by the time he was born. I had two more ultra sounds and the placenta did not move. The doctor was worried because the placenta was right over the scar tissue from my three previous c-sections. there was a chance that the placenta could attach too deep or even grow through the uterus. Because of this the doctor was going to schedule the surgery around July 8th, about a month before my due date. On June 23, I noticed some bleeding, and went strait to the hospital. The bleeding stopped but the doctor did not want to send me home unless something else happened at home. I spent several days in the hospital on bed rest. On the morning of June 27, I started having really bad pain in my belly. They moved me to labor and delivery. Then my doctor came in and said they were going to do the surgery as soon as possible. I called Ryan and told him what was happening. He took the kids to his parents and then came back to the hospital. They put me under general anesthesia (thank goodness). When I woke up later I was told that the placenta had grown all the way through the uterus and I had been bleeding internally. They had to do an emergency hysterectomy, and I needed 4 units of blood. When I woke up I had a tube sticking out of my neck where the put the blood in. I stayed in the ICU until the next day. I am recovering very well.
The baby is still in the newborn ICU. He was 6 weeks early. He was jaundiced and was under light therapy for a few days. he is now off of that and the oxygen. He has his IV out now. We are just waiting for him to be able to eat on his own. I don't know how long it will be before he can come home. I can't wait, it seems so strange to just visit him and not have him home with us.
The girls are happy to have me home. Anna had a hard time while I was in the hospital. When I came home she kept looking up at me and saying "Mommy, I like you."
He is so perfect I am so happy to have a little boy to complete our sweet family.

Family Vacation

On May 29, 2010 we left home early in the morning. We spent the whole
day in airports, on airplanes and in the car. Finally at about 10:30 pm
we arrived at the beach house on Caswell Beach NC.

Ryan's brother Christian came with us. we really appreciated all of his help.

The children were very good on the airplane. We had fun and got
some sleep on the airplane

Everyone did their part and pulled their own bags, except for me.
The doctor told me I could not lift more than 15 lbs. and Ryan would not
let me carry any thing except my purse.

We had so much fun on the beach with all of Ryan's family.
The kids loved spending so much time with their cousins.
Here they are with cousins Karl and Talia

Grandpa Paulsen playing with Anna on the beach.
We spent several hours everyday out on the beach. It was so fun.

One day we took a ferry to the North Carolina Aquarium.
When we got to the aquarium they tried to sell us a family pass.
We told them that we were from UT so we would never use it again.
They said it could be used all over the country. They said we could use it
at Hogle Zoo. Ryan told them we had a family pass to the zoo.
We were able to use our zoo pass to get into the aquarium for free.

I think the kids favorite part of the aquarium was climbing
on this big frog.

Here is a good 30 week belly shot.

We really enjoyed the Aquarium. We went with Ryan's sister Tiffany, her
husband Karl and their three kids, Talia, Karl and Samantha.

After the Aquarium we went to Fort Fisher. This is a Civil war museum.
Again our favorite part was climbing on this cannon.

This picture needs some explanation. This was the last night we were
all together. We went to a restaurant called Elijah's in Wilmington.
I had a hard time ordering. I was deciding between to safe options, but at the
last minute I decided to try something new. I ordered a soft shell crab sandwich.
Being a Utah girl, I thought this would be some crab meat on a bun, but I was wrong.
When my food came there was a whole crab, battered and deep fried on a bun.
It had legs and claws and a face. I was so surprised, I started to cry(stupid pregnancy hormones)
The waitress offered me something else, but I had ordered it. I gave the crab to Ryan,
but then I decided I should at least try it. I always tell my kids to try something before they
decide they hate it. I tasted it but I could not get past the look of it. The waitress told
me she has seen many reactions to a soft shell crab, but I was the first person to cry.
Ryan ordered me a dessert, and when it came they had drawn a crab on it.
The waitress told me that she would say it was my birthday and it would be free.
I felt really bad for being rewarded for my bad behavior, but the desert was very good.

It really was a wonderful vacation. It was a really good way to celebrate Ryan's graduation.

Ryan has a PhD

OK, I am so behind posting on here. There are so many things that have happened in the last month. One major thing was on May 26 2010 Ryan Defended his doctorate dissertation. Every thing went well and he passed. We were so proud of him and planned a little party for him when he came home. The girls made a special banner to put on the wall. We made a special dinner with diploma sandwiches and chocolate pie. He brought home some brownies and fruit and we added this to our dinner. Abby used this occasion to throw the confetti she made with colored paper. It was fun but Ryan was very tired and wnt to bed right after dinner.

Ryan Walked

Graduation day finally came.
Ryan and his professor Daryl Davis.

Family Photos.

Ryan will defend his thesis in the next few weeks, and
then he will be an official PhD.

My Big Belly

This picture was taken about two weeks ago when I was 23 weeks
along. I am now about 25 weeks, and things are going well.
I am getting really good at the pregnant waddle.
I have already grown out of a lot of my maternity clothes.
Ryan took me shopping and I got some great summer clothes to get
me through to August.

We Miss You Emily!

I have been tending Emily since last Fall.
Emily and Abby were in the same kindergarten class.
She moved away a few weeks ago.
Abby will really miss her.

Potty Time

I have been wondering if I would have two kids in diapers when the baby is born. Anna didn't seem to have any interest in using the toilet. Last week when I realized that she was two months past her third birthday, I decided it was time. I started putting her in underwear all the time. She has had a few accidents this week, but she is really doing great. She keeps telling me,
"No more diapers for Anna."
Now I will have about 14 weeks with no diapers.
Oh Happy Day.