My Mom

My mom came for an entire week after Katelynn was born. We planned it perfect. As soon as Aaron had to go back to work, my mom came. It was so nice to have constant help for the first 2 weeks. My mom did so much laundry!! I am so proud to say that she caught me all up and since then I have not gotten behind! Woo hoo! My mom was such a big help! The first two weeks are so hard and I am so thankful my mom came and helped me so much! Plus Cassidy loves the one on one time with her grandma!



Thanks mom! You are awesome!!!

Halloween 2011

I am so behind on posting! Anyway so 5 days after Katelynn was born it was Halloween! Cassidy was very excited.
Cassidy was thrilled to be a ladybug! Katelynn seemed pretty content to be a zebra!

Cass loved going to each door. She was not shy and loved picking a candy out.

Cassidy meets Katelynn

We were so excited for Cassidy to meet Katelynn. She was so excited to meet her baby sister. Because Katelynn was born late at night, Cassidy came in the morning. She wore her bug sister shirt. :).
Since we have been home Cass has been awesome with Katelynn. She loves to introduce her to people. She loves to help me change her diaper. She loves to help me burb her and read books to her. She is always kissing her and wanting to hold her. I hope they are always best friends. I know they will probably fight sometimes but I am so happy they will always have each other.

Birth Story

I want to write Katelynn's birth story so I wont forget.

Back story is I have a really bad back from gymnastics. So when I got to 38 weeks the extra weight and the position of my growing baby began to put pressure on my low back and the nerve that was affected when I got injured originally. The result is a lot of back pain but more importantly the squished nerve made it some my right foot was completely numb. Like walking around with the feeling that my foot was constantly asleep. Then at 39 weeks it became so bad that I started to not be able to move my toes up and down well. Scary.

So my doctor was set to induce me at 39 weeks 1 day. I went in on Saturday night after I drove up to Spokane to pick up my best friend Amanda. Its hard to explain but I had a feeling my body wasnt quite ready to give birth or like the baby wasnt quite ready to come out. But I still went because my back had gotten really bad. Well turns out I was right because after being in labor because of pitocin for 12 hours I was sent home since I was still only 2cm and making no progress.

I was told to come back Tuesday Oct 25th (39 weeks, 4 days) to start the process again. In the few days in between I did everything I could think of. Amanda and I went on a long walk to the park, we went to the mall to walk (and shop) and we saw footloose at the movie theatre. :)

I went back Tuesday and knew it was the right time. I had cervadil on Tuesday night and started pitocin at 6am Wednesday morning. At 5pm after being in painful labor for 11 hours, the nurse checked me and I was STILL AT 2CM!!! Ahhh, the nurse said I had 3 options. 1) I could have two more hours to see if I made progress. 2) I could stop -sleep for the night and then start all over in the morning. 3) Have a c section. I was soooo depressed. I was exhausted and sad I had not progressed. They couldnt even break my water for me because my cervix was still too far up. I just felt like I couldnt start all over again I was sooo tired. So I got really determined and told Aaron that I was going to find a way to progress in my two hours.

So Aaron helped me get in the hot tub in my room to try and relax with the jets on. I sat in there for 30 minutes then got out. I then decided to try every random position to try to inspire change. I just KNEW I was meant to have the baby that night. While I was on my hands and knees doing yoga positions I felt a painful pop. I was freaked out and told Aaron something hurt and he needed to help me stand up. As soon as I stood up I felt a huge gush and knew my water broke. I was pretty proud of myself. :) I felt like my nurse had given up and decided that it wasnt going to happen for me that night. So when my water broke I was so proud and Amanda really put it best. When I texted her to tell her she wrote back "YES, in that nurse's face!"

My water broke at 7:15pm. I got a new nurse at 7:30 when it was shift change! I was really happy because my favorite nurse came back on. Her name is Nicole and she was awesome! In the next two hours I was in the most pain I have ever felt. M contractions got sooooo painful. I literally felt like I was going to die with every contraction. I was crying and saying how much it hurt. My doctor checked me at 8:00 and said I was at 3cm and I could have an epideral. The anesthesiologist took about 20 minutes to come and get ready. I really thought I would DIE. I got a partial epideral and felt so much better! After being in intense labor for awhile and then pretty easy labor for awhile my nurse checked me again at 10pm and said I was at 10cm! I never heard the numbers 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9cm. From a 3 to a 10 in 2 hours! The nurse called the doctor to come and said she thought it would be a short time. I laughed because with Cassidy when they told me that I then pushed for 3 HOURS. But when the doctor came I only did three pushes and out she came! She came out at 10:24pm!!

We werent sure what to name her when she came and we were debating between Carly and Katelynn. I let Aaron pick and he decided on Katelynn. I choose Josephine which I love. I think her name Katelynn Josephine fits her perfectly. We call her Katelynn or Kate --no Katie (I dont like Katie).

Labor is quite the process but honestly after we got home I just felt so thankful that it all worked out perfectly in the end. We are so lucky to have two healthy and happy girls.

Feeling Loved

We felt so loved during labor. First of all my best friend Amanda came to help us with Cassidy. She is AWESOME! I ended up being in the hospital for 3 nights and every one of those nights she gave Cassidy dinner, did bath, play and put her to bed. I never felt worried or stressed. The fact that I was not worried about Cassidy made it possible for me to relax and focus on labor. I am so thankful to her. Not only did she do all that but she also supported me with texts and calls, came to visit me, brought me balloons & flowers and made me a welcome home sign. I wish everyone had a friend like her. She is such a blessing to my life.

We also got a visit from Aaron's grandparents. They are so sweet.

We also got a ton of calls and text messages from our friends and family. It is hard to live so far from our friends and family but we still felt loved from afar. Thank you everyone!

I also want to say my husband made me feel so supported and loved. He is the BEST partner in labor. He is so calm and is so sweet. He is constantly telling me how great I am doing. He makes me feel like I am wonder woman. He lets me squeeze his hand so hard and just made me feel so loved. Plus he said to me, "Thank you so much for bringing our daughters into the world and giving me the best gift in the universe." The way he looks at his daughters melts my heart.

I love how you can see the clock. This was EXACTLY 2 hours after Katelynn was born!

I know I can make it through another labor at some point if we want because of all the support and love fron everyone.

Katelynn Josephine

Our family is now complete!! We are officially a family of 4!

Introducing....

KATELYNN JOSEPHINE JOHNSON

October 26, 2011

7 lbs and 19 inches long

10:24 pm

She is so sweet and we are in love. Cassidy is the best big sister and Katelynn is a wonderful baby! Many more blogs to come!!

39 weeks

This will probably be my last pregnancy post. WOW. I am now almost 39 weeks. :)

Cassidy started full time day care this week for the first time ever! I am a little sad about it but she is loving it. She asks me everyday if she gets to sleep at school and when I say yes she is thrilled and tells me how she gets to have her own bed like everyone else. The plus side is I am getting all my necessary work done and going home to take a nap each day over my lunch. I have been so tired! I think the reason I am so tired is because I have such a hard time sleeping at night. I am constantly rolling over, I am always so hot and I have been having heart burn. So the mid day naps are an awesome addition to my day.My back has been such a problem. Aaron and I were saying last night that if they did back transplants we would pay any amount of money to be on that waiting list. :) I am trying to tough it out as long as possible so this baby stays in my tummy for as long as possible.

Other than that I have been loving being pregnant. I miss it when it is over. I love feeling the baby move around and feeling her hiccup. I love watching my tummy expand and my belly button push out. I love how I feel mentally. I love how I think I am super funny when I am pregnant even though I know I am not. Aaron says I laugh more when I am pregnant and I laugh really loud. :) I have not been very hungry but could eat cereal every meal of the day.

I am enjoying everyday I have left pregnant but am finally feeling really ready to meet this baby and be a family of four!!

My Independent Girly Girl

Cass has reached a HUGE HUGE HUGE milestone!!! She now wears big girl underwear!!! WOO HOO!! She wears her underwear all day except when she is sleeping and she hasn't had an accident in two weeks! She even wears them all day at school. We are SO proud of her. She doesn't require any special treat anymore she just does it like it is totally normal. She is always telling me she is a big girl and she has had no accidents. :) GOOD JOB CASSIDY!!

(I am hoping we don't have have slides in the backward direction when the new baby comes. FINGERS CROSSED)

This morning when Cassidy woke up the first thing she said to me was "Mama, please I wear a dress today, please!" So today she wore a dress with tights. We have a girly girl on our hands. :) Let me just say that the last thing you would have heard out of my mouth when I was a kid was to please wear a dress. LOL

My MOM

My mom came up for a few days to help me get ready for the baby and to spend time with Cass. We went to the pumpkin patch. It was so much fun. I love Fall! It is by far my favorite season especially in Washington. I love the cold but not snow and the pumpkins and the football and the holidays and the list goes on and on. Cass loved picking out pumpkins.
We went on the hayride.

No I am not trying to steal a pumpkin under my shirt. That is just my huge baby bump. :)

We had so much fun. I wish we could go back already but we got 6 pumpkins so we have lots of carving to get to. :)

My mom was so wonderful with helping me get ready. We got out all of Cassidy's old clothes, sorted them, washed them and put them away. My mom may or may not have also helped with our regular laundry too. :) We got everything out and cleaned and after she left I started feeling so much more ready for this baby to come. Thanks mom!!

Cassidy Quotes

I wanted to write down some of my favorite things Cassidy has said so I don't forget.

-"Mama, you are driving me crazy!"

-Aaron and I kiss... Cass: "What you doing? Just kissing Daddy?" Me: "Yes" Cass: "Oh ok that so funny."

-Cass:"Mama you got a pretty dress today." Me: "Thanks" Cass: "You beauiful. You so welcome."

-Cass: "I love you mama." Me: "I love you too." Cass: "I love you soooo much." Me: "Thanks baby" Cass: "You so welcome mama."

- Me: "What should we name baby sister?" Cass: "Baby sister." Me: How about Cody?
Cass: "Mama! No, not baby cody. Cody my dog. Cody a boy. You so funny." Me: "I try."

-Cass: "Grandma coming to our house next week." Me: "No she is coming this Saturday." Cass: "No not Saturday she coming next week."

-Me: "What did you have for lunch today?" Cass: "I dont want to talk about it."

-Cass: "What you having for lunch today?" Me: "I dont know, what should I have?" Cass: "Noodles and cheese and crackers and ice cream."

-Me: "Cass lets get the mail." Cass: "Oooo, maybe present in there for me." (We open the mailbox) Cass: "Nope no present just all bills. You get it mama." Me: "Geez, thanks."

-Cass: "Mama I gotta go outside. I not in the street. I only on sidewalk. I gotta go help Daddy. You stay here, I be right back. I gotta help my daddy outside."

-Cass walks along and picks up everything. "Here mama, here is a rock for baby sister. Put in on your belly and dont drop it." One minute later, "Here is a leaf for baby sister dont drop it." One minute after that, "Here is stick for baby sister, put it on your belly." "Wait let me see everything, dont drop it keep it, ok? It is for baby sister."

Maternity Pics

The other night I was going through my scrapbooks and was looking over Cassidy's pregnancy and 1st year scrapbooks. They are very detailed and extensive. :) I am really proud of them but yet I felt this automatic guilt at my lack of anything for this new baby. So I have a new mission. I am a scrapbooking fool these days. I must get a pregnancy book done before this baby comes! First task: print all pregnancy pictures. Second task: take more pregnancy pictures that are not just self belly portraits.

So we went to the river last weekend to take some pictures. I am actually thrilled we did because I really wanted some new pictures with a nice background (not my house or office) with Cassidy in them. It was so hot at the river that Cassidy and I finally took our shoes off and got in the water while Aaron took our picture. We ended up walking along the river, throwing rocks in and having a great time!














I was a little over 35 weeks in these pictures. I have my 36 week appointment tomorrow. Crazy!! I was just remembering how last time I was this pregnant I was going home everyday from 11 to 1 to nap. That makes me laugh, I haven't taken any naps during the work day this time. I have to pick Cass up from school at 12 so that would present a challenge in my old nap schedule. lol I have been so busy with work and Cassidy that this pregnancy has flown by. I am really excited but yet I do not quite feel ready just yet. My mom is coming up in 2 weekends to help me sort the closets and get back out Cassidy's baby size clothes plus wash everything and get the bouncer, swing etc back out. I am really hoping after that weekend I feel more ready. It is just crazy that in two days it will be October and I am due in October!!! WOW! I cant wait to hold her and see if she looks like Cassidy. :) I cant wait to see Cassidy's face when she sees her sister and I cant wait to finally see her so we can pick a name! lol Names are hard! YAY for being 9 months!!