Introducing #5 - Laz Donald

Well we have another boy! Laz Donald was added to the mix on June 8th at 9:40pm. He weighed 8lbs 7 oz and was 20 in long.

I was scheduled to have a c-section on monday the 13th but my blood pressure was pretty high throughout the day on Wed so I called the doctors office and they told me to come downtown to the hospital to get checked out. Well it continued to stay high and i was having some decent contractions so they decided why wait. So unfortunately my platelets were low again so I couldn't get a spinal (maybe a blessing after the complications with my kidneys after z's birth) but I had to go completely under for his birth. I felt groggy when I woke but since it was the middle of the night no one cared and I had plenty of time with Laz and D to kinda come around.

 So D and Laz hung out and bonded for a bit til I woke! I was a bit shocked it was a boy. I made D tell me as I didn't want to go under and find out later than everyone else but still shocked. I thought for sure this little one was a girl or was hoping for Ells sake but she loves him just the same!

The bigs came to visit after golf practice. And it was the hottest ever. My camera got switched to auto focus so well a little blurry and we left early from the hospital so thats all we got!

Z wasn't interested really at all...

since it was a bit crowded at the hostpial. like crazy. we had a storage over flow room for the first night and morning. and even shared with a couple triage patients. (that was interesting). but late thursday we got a room only to be maybe asked to move friday so i requested to go home and our request was granted - whoop whoop!

of course at home we had gotten sod (did i mention it was the hottest it has been for three days) and we had landscaped our entire yard) so d spent most of his time outside and popped his head in once and awhile to check on me. thankfully our parents were tag teaming with the other kiddos so i had time to sit and recover.

We are settling into our new normal which is a bit chaotic and crazy but it kind of already was before!
And our final starting lineup...

schools out for summer

Its official. School is out for summer. Ells finished up Kindergarten and Shadd 1st grade. Onto 1st and 2nd grade next year. 

These 1st and Last pictures always get me like wow they are so big and look how much they've grown. Time just seems to be flying by! They tell me it goes fast and they are so so right!

New house, new look, still same sun!

So what Ells accomplished...
Ells grew a ton this year! She started out the year - well hard. Not always wanting to go. Throwing fits and just really not knowing how to deal with all the change and emotion. Remember she was a crazy hand washer! Well she grew a ton in reading and writing. Loves to writes books and stories. She is smart and a great speller. She grew in independence and her ability to communicate and deal with issues like anxiety and over whelming situations. She made friends. She is kind and thoughtful - thinking of others and including many. Which always makes a momma's heart sore! Loved her teacher and really enjoyed going to school each day!


And what Shadd accomplished...
Shadd had a fun year. He is a rule follower to the core. Always exceeding in what he does. He loves school and especially math. He loves to write books and his reading just continues to get better and better. He reads to Z and can fly through some of his favorites books like Imagination Station, Flat Stanley, Magic Tree House etc. He started a couple Matt Christopher books which is fun as I enjoyed reading those with Uncle J a few years back :). He is a great friend. He loves to play games at recess and his ball and soccer skills have continued to improve with the consistent play.  He is patient and kind and really just takes it all in. He is just a sweet kid!