The Most Lethal Combination

One thing that I enjoy about having three sons is the attention that it brings. I cannot go anywhere without someone commenting on the children- "Wow, three boys, really?!?". But the comment today by the Pottery Barn lady took the grand prize. "Oooh, three boys? That is the most lethal combination". Seriously? The most lethal? Hmmmm... I wonder if that's why Peter bumped up my SGLI.

So here are some pics of my (pretty darn cute) lethal combo...

The whole family at the circus. Travis fell asleep before intermission, but loved the BMX bikers and the tigers. Justin was fascinated by it all- especially the elephants!
At Granna's pool

At Chuy's in Austin- we went up there to watch the famous Austin bats. We missed it last year due to the rain, so we decided to give it one more try!
Smilin' in my sleep... On top of Mount Bonnell in Austin.
Happy One Month Birthday, Baby Andrew!

A Crazy, Crazy Month...
Well, June 2008 can be summed up by saying it was a crazy month, filled with stress, joy, excitement and celebration.
The first of the month, obviously, was joyous with the birth of Andrew. It was slightly bittersweet, however, because Peter was in the midst of studying for his oral exams. For those who don't know, the Army-Baylor Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program is ranked 5th in the nation. It is also one of few schools that still requires a comprehensive, oral exam before graduation. This consists of standing in front of a panel (individually- for an hour and a half!!), being asked questions based on cumulative information from a year and a half of intense coursework. Peter has studied gradually for months, and for the month of June has put in about 12-13 hours a day. So while we were joyous Andrew was here, it was also difficult with the stress of orals upon him. But, on June 26th, Peter passed! Let the time of celebration begin!!!

Luvin' on the his Mini-Me
Travis and Alexis on the final day of soccer camp.

Showing some soccer skills!

" Uhhh, nice to meet you!"
At Chuck E Cheese for Travis's family birthday party
My boys (minus one)
Peter, Justin and Andrew on the morning before Orals

Travis's BIG 5th birthday party was on June 28th. We rented this Aquapark and grilled in the backyard.

"I'm 5, baby, 5!"

Peter and Russell doing what men do

This is the line of kids at the pinata. There were about 30 kids at the party total (along with about 30 adults), so we had quite some party!

"Uhhh, could someone make this kid stop crying?!?"

Jason, Andy and Peter- looking spiffy for the offical class photo!

Baylor DPT Class of 2009 (Peter is center, back row)

" I LOVE my baby brother!"

Notice the tattoo on the arm. Justin went to the toliet for the first time and earned a tattoo (we did this for Travis and it worked really well!). We are very proud and, although it has only happened once, excited at the prospect of only having one kid in diapers!!

All dressed up for Peter's graduation dinner

It was a great ending to a great month! Now Peter will start his residency at Texas PT and finish that next March of 2009. Then we are off to new and exciting places!

Andrew's First Pictures

My friend, Leah, is a professional photographer and I have been so excited about her coming and taking Andrew's first pictures! She is absolutely amazing and I am so happy with how they turned out! You should really check out her blog, Ever After Photography, and see her other great work.

Thanks, Leah, for doing this for me!!

(It's a little larger on her blog, if you want to look at it there)

Andrew Ryan...

Andrew actually arrived on June 10, 2008 at 1:46 am. He was induced after my appt on Monday, when my BP was 168/112. He came into this world weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. When I get a chance, I'll post more pics and all the good information!

Are you as tired of these updates as I am?

Short and sweet update...per the doctors today, as long as BP's don't go above 160's/110's (and I am close to that) and the baby looks good everytime I go in (every M,T and TH!), they will induce June 13th- that's right, folks... Friday, the 13th. Cue the scary music!

Quick Baby Update...
So BP's continue to be high. When I went in on Thursday, they were around 150's/100's so they decided to admit me for observation. After spending the night in the hospital and monitoring the baby overnight, the doctors determined that the baby was truly fine and that I just have gestational hypertension (not pre-eclampsia, which is what they are worried about). They've done all sorts of labs, ultrasounds, etc, so everyone is pretty sure that everything with the baby is OK. I have to go back every 1-2 days (appts on M, T and TH) and get NST's, serial BP's and ultrasounds done. It seems as though every doctor has different ideas on induction- some have said make it to 37 weeks (Thursday); others have said that as long as the baby is fine and it's just high BP, wait as long as we can to no-later-than 39 weeks (June 13). So we're on a holding pattern of wait and see.

Baby Update:
Ok, so alot of people are asking about the baby, so here is the update on all the happenings lately. Most of you already know this, but three weeks ago, I went to my normal 32-week appt and my BP's were in the 130/80 range. My BP usually runs pretty low, so I was told to come back in two weeks, instead of four, and have it checked out again. So Monday of last week, I went in again, BP's are now 140's/90's-100's. They immediately sent me over to Wilford Hall (the Air Force Hospital here where all deliveries take place. For those not familiar, I have normal appts at Brooks Army Medical Center-BAMC- but they do not have a L&D dept. Wilford Hall is about a 45 min drive from my house...in good traffic). Anyway, they send me to Wilford Hall, where I have serial BP's taken and a non-stress fetal exam. BP's over there are 130's/80's-90's. Baby is doing fine. They debate on whether to induce, keep me over night, etc. They end up sending me home after I tell them my husband is gone for the week at Camp Bullis, I have no way to get in touch with him and have two kids in the waiting room. I am ordered to 'take it easy' (ummm...hello...did I mention the two kids in the waiting room??), promise to check my BP at BAMC and do a 24-hr urine protein to check for pre-eclampsia. So I go back as promised, do my urine collecting like a good little girl, etc.
So on Friday, I check my BP at home (I got a home-based BP machine) and it is once again 140's/90-100's. I call the MD, am told to go straight to Wilford Hall again. I get there, BP's remain high. Once again, the baby looks fine (thank goodness!). According to the labs on Monday, I do not have pre-eclampsia (once again, thank goodness!), just gestational hypertension. Well not 'just', but you know what I mean. So now I am on 'a short leash' as they put it. I have to go to Wilford Hall for BP checks, non-fetal stress tests, and ultrasounds to check the baby/placenta bi-weekly. That's right...I have to drive to Wilford Hall every Monday and Thursday. I thought being in the military this time, Andrew would be the cheap baby- now with gas prices, he'll probably be the most expensive! :) If BP's continue to be high, they will most likely induce at 37 weeks, therefore letting Andrew grow for two more weeks, as long as everything with him looks OK.
So to sum it up, Andrew is doing fine, I am doing fine (no symptoms at all) and we are being closely watched.