Back Floats & Baby Updates

Today marked Ethan & Luke's graduation from swim lessons. When we started in May neither boy would even put their face in the water. In fact, we had a couple of lessons where Luke refused to get in the pool entirely. But now, three months and more money than I'd like to recall later, they passed their final benchmark to becoming Level 3 swimmers. To do so they had to jump in the pool fully clothed, without their goggles, and then float on their back for 10 seconds before swimming to the side of the pool. This demonstrates (hopefully) how they would react should they ever fall in the deep end of a pool accidentally.

Getting ready to jump
He floats!He did it! (And on his 5th birthday no less!)Here goes Lukey
10 seconds can be a long time . . .Relief! He did it too!Who knew two yellow ribbons (gold medals they call them) could make these boys so happy?

Today was also Chloe's first Dr.'s appointment. Our little sweet pea is literally very little, weighing in at the 13th percentile. However, she has surpassed her birth weight, gaining 10 ounces in the last week alone, so hopefully she'll be filling out her clothing soon. I can't say enough about how sweet and mellow this newborn is. When I was telling my pediatrician (who saw me through Ethan's gag reflex and Luke's colic) about Chloe's good nature, the Dr. remarked that God intended her as my reward after the other two! Whatever the reason, I'm just so grateful.

A sight I thought I'd never see: a Bollard boy holding his girlLuke wanted Chloe to sleep with him, so we let her, just for a minute at least. Luke thinks Chloe is finally the answer to his constant request for a pet.Pretty in Pink

A Few More Hospital Pic's

Chloe Rose Bollard

At 5:30 a.m. this morning, Audra's water broke. After Grandma Bollard came over to watch the boys, we headed to Hoag hospital. We checked into a wonderful room with an ocean view. Audra got her epidural around 9:00 a.m. and the contractions came regularly. The epidural started to wear off by noon, but Audra did a great job hanging in there until she got more medication. Our girl (amazing) was born at 12:55 p.m. with lots of dark hair. She was 6 lbs. 10 ounces and 18 1/2 inches long. As Ethan said when he saw her, "Welcome to the world!"

Good luck with this group, Chloe!


Chloe getting her first shampoo.


She is beautiful and perfect in every way.

I Should Have Known

Yesterday my luck ran out.

Although I continue to dilate (up to a 3 now)
&
my Dr. is willing to induce me,

apparently hospitals are not very motivated to quickly make room in their schedule for women who are not overdue, do not need a C-section, do not have high blood pressure, and are not presenting with any other complication other than complete and total impatience :)

So, the waiting game continues . . .

I have been firmly scheduled for no later than next Wednesday, so there is a definite end date,

but a few prayers that my water will spontaneously break (like, NOW) would be appreciated.

Let's do this

You are READY to deliver a baby if:

It takes you over a minute of very concentrated effort to roll over in bed.

You actually have a bruise--that's right, a black and blue bruise--on your left hip from the pressure of sleeping on your side all night.

You get to wear these fabulous wrist braces because you have pregnancy-induced carpel tunnel syndrome in your hands.

A man you've met for the first time at a church picnic tells you to your face that you're about to pop.

You've stood and admired the baby's going-home-from-the-hospital outfit about fifty-five times. You also occasionally just stare in awe at the row of dresses on pink hangers hanging in the closet.

You've had your toenails pedicured in the perfect shade of purple.

Your mother has come and completely worked a miracle in helping you turn one large room into a suitable nursery/toddler/play/storage room for all three children. And it actually doesn't look too cluttered.

Your husband has spent a lot of time assembling items with terrible pictures-only instructions over the last week (because who can really afford furniture/baby gear that actually comes assembled for you?).

You and your husband have agreed on the baby's first and middle name.

Your non-maternity clothes are starting to look extra stylish and you have dreams of actually wearing them again, even though you know in your heart it will still be weeks (okay, months) before you really can.

You've convinced your Doctor to induce you by Wednesday. Never mind that the real reason is because you're fully effaced, dilated to a 2, and his daughter is getting married on your due date. I like to think my negotiation skills had something to do with it.