Happy Birthday Ashlyn!

My little Ashlyn is 14 today, I can hardly believe that she is so old. The years have gone by so fast and I am more amazed by her each and every day. Love you Ashlyn!!!

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Everyone's asleep!

All the babies are napping at the same time so I am blogging as fast as I can before someone wakes up! Sawyer is a month old already and everybody is doing great with him. He seems to have adjusted to our crazy, noisy house pretty well. The poor little guy has terrible reflux so has trouble sleeping but other than that is a content, happy baby. Parker and McKenna continue to be fascinated by him and Ashlyn is a great big sister. Here are a few pictures of the last few weeks. None of Ashlyn as usual... she continues to run from the camera!

Little cutie

Parker with his "I'm not doing anything" look

Their version of "helping"... we have since started putting Sawyer in his seat inside the crib for his own protection :)

Kisses from everyone, I love this picture!

Sawyer is home!

Well, Sawyer has been home since last Friday but this is my first chance to update the blog. Somehow things have gotten much busier around here and if it is between sleep and the blog I usually pick sleep! He is a great baby and the kids are all adjusting to him really well. Here are a few pics of his homecoming...

The kids and Mark taking me home

"Get me out of here Daddy."

So handsome

Heading out of Special Care

In the car with Mom

Parker checking out his new brother and McKenna pretending this isn't happening :)

Welcome Baby Boy!

I am way behind in posting but wanted to announce the birth of our new little boy, Sawyer Mark. Sawyer was born June 9 weighing 5lbs. 2oz. He is still in the Special Care Nursery but doing very well. We hope to have him home very soon. I had quite a few complications after delivery, thus the late post. The doctors and nurses at Henry Ford West Bloomfield were truly amazing, we can't thank them enough for all they did for our family. My recovery is going very slowly from all of the complications so I am anxious to get back on my feet and to be able to keep up with my kids again. I'm sure Mark is just as anxious as I am, he has been on double duty for a long, long time now.
Thanks to everyone for all of your love and support!

Just a few hours old

8 days old and no more iv or tubes!

34 weeks and in the hospital

So I am 34 weeks today but am now posting from my hospital bed. Yesterday my contractions really picked up so I was admitted to Labor and Delivery. They administered a dose of steroids for the baby's lungs and have been trying to hold off my labor long enough to get the second dose in today. So far things are going okay, I'm contracting about every 5 minutes now and am 1 cm dialated but the doctor said the baby's head is at zero station so things could change at any time.

The kids are all doing pretty well. The babies have no idea what is going on but seem to be adjusting to the different faces coming in and out of the house. Ashlyn is hanging in there but I know this brings back lots of memories for her of the last time I was in the hospital and it just breaks my heart. She is a toughy though and I know she will keep being strong and we will have a fun summer vacation to enjoy together very soon. Many thanks to Uncle Brett, Aunt Marianne and Nana and Papa for taking shifts the last two days to get us through all of this craziness!

Please keep our family in your thoughts. 34 weeks is a great place to be but we would still like to go much longer. Unfortunately, losing a child has taken away that "everything will be fine" feeling that should be getting me through right now. Being back in the hospital brings back many memories of our last delivery and has just made me miss our little girl so much more. I will be so happy when the day comes that this new little baby is safe and sound in our arms.

Thanks to everyone for all of your support,
Jessica

The Gigglers

The kids playing with a barely inflated balloon... there is nothing like giggling babies!!!

Oh and I'm 33 weeks today too, 3 more weeks of bedrest and then we will just wait for a big, healthy baby!

Track star

I am so excited to actually have pictures of Ashlyn to post! She runs every time we get the camera out so I guess it is fitting that the only pictures we have of her are on the track. I am so proud of her, she just finished 7th grade track where she competed in shot put and the 70 and 100 meter. The girl will try anything and when she does she commits to it 100%. I am always amazed at all she is able to accomplish and the amazing person she has grown to become. Years ago, when she was first diagnosed with autism I never thought she would be going to a typical school, competing in sports AND on the honor roll every semester. If there is one thing I could say to a parent of a child newly diagnosed with autism it is that your child can reach beyond what you have been told they will become. There is always HOPE.

32 weeks and counting

Somehow we have made it to 32 weeks. When I was in the hospital almost 5 weeks ago, I really did not think we would get much further and also couldn't imagine how we would all survive bedrest if we did. Everyone has adjusted to our temporary craziness over here and we seem to be getting through the days. It is so nice to know that all of this rest is paying off and that we may actually get to have a take home baby this time! Many thanks to everyone who has been helping us get through each day. I am determined to get to at least 34 weeks and if we get there then I will stand on my head to get to 36... whatever it takes to avoid the NICU!

Parker doing his nightly check of my tummy

Snuggling before bed... my favorite time of the day

Parker and Daddy's version of snuggling

This is totally off the subject of this post but I couldn't resist. Remember the cute kitchen we bought the kids? This is what it looks like after a few weeks in our house!

Sooo cute

McKenna is at the age where she is just so cute I could eat her up. She has turned into a great little talker. In the fall she tested with a mild speech delay and I remember looking ahead to the developmental chart and reading that she should be able to say 20 words at 18 months. I thought there was no way that would happen. She has definitely proved me wrong. Now she is repeating everything and we have quickly learned to watch what we say if she is nearby! Did I mention she is sweet as can be? And yes, I am planning to save this blog entry and read it over when we are going through her wonderful teenage years. I just finished a long power struggle with my wonderful teenager and am thinking I better start searching for some of those old movies of her at her sweetest to remind me that there was a time when nice things came out of her mouth too!

Easter in May and 30 weeks

So I am finally getting around to posting our pictures from Easter weekend. How terrible is that?? You would think with all of the bed rest I would have plenty of time but I tend to just move from bed to couch with two little toddlers at my side and then spend my evenings in Ashlyn's room laying on her bed doing homework or playing games. The bedrest has been well worth it because I have finally made it to 30 weeks!! We are very happy to be at this point but hoping for as many more days or weeks as we can get. Thanks to everyone for their support and to my wonderful husband for keeping our crazy household going each day.

On to the Easter pics (no pictures of big sister Ashlyn because she was just starting to get that terrible flu bug that went through our house)...

Visiting with cousin Gracie

The little girls

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed

Pretty McKenna

Handsome Parker

Sitting with Nana (I love the look on his face!)

Waiting, so patiently, for their Easter baskets from Nana and Papa

Easter egg hunt

My favorite picture from the day

29 weeks!

Believe it or not we have made it one more week. I am 29 weeks now, 2 days further than I was when I delivered the triplets, and feeling a little bit more hopeful that we can make it a few more weeks rather than just a few more days. I received a good report from the high risk doctor on Friday. The baby is growing well and my body is holding steady since our scare last week. Thanks so much to all of our family who helped us get through my first week of bedrest. Thanks to my parents, brothers and Aunt Sandy and Marianne for watching the kids and helping with the house and to Aunt Nancy for the great meals. We couldn't have done it without you!! We have a sitter starting this week and I'm sure all of you have been counting the days :)

On another note, the kids were starting to get bored with all of their baby toys so Daddy bought them a play kitchen this weekend. They LOVE it and have spent the whole weekend opening and shutting doors and chewing on pretend food. Thanks Daddy! Here are a few pics...

A walk and a rainbow

Our family walked as a team for the March for Babies this past weekend. I was so disappointed not to be able to go but was amazed by all of the "Watson Walkers" who showed up to raise over $1000 for the March of Dimes. After we lost Hadley my biggest fear was that somehow she would be forgotten and that Mark and I would be the only ones to remember her and the short life she had here with us. Seeing all of the pictures from the walk with Hadley's name on the back of everyone's shirts was overwhelming to me. She has not been forgotten and her memory continues through everyone that has followed us on this journey. I wish that I could explain how important this is to me, as a loss mom, it is all that I could ever ask for from the people who love us.

Ever since Hadley passed rainbows have been a symbol for me to know that she is with us. Whenever I am having a really tough time or just aching for some sign that she is near I see a rainbow. The minister who performed Hadley's memorial told me that rainbows mean "I am here." After the walk, when the day was winding down we looked out our back window and there was a huge rainbow over our lake. We could see the whole thing from beginning to end right in our backyard. And she was here.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Watson Walkers:

Nana & Papa
Uncle Kyle and Aubrey
Uncle Brett
Aunt Marianne and Amanda
Aunt Sharon and Ashley
Aunt Mo
Sue and Kara
Kelli and Ava
Michelle, Rick and Jeffrey
and of course my amazing husband and kids


Daddy and McKenna

Ashlyn walking for her little sister, I couldn't be more proud!

Daddy and Parker

Our family sign


The Watson Walkers, we love you guys!!

Update on the next Watson

Well first I will start with the good news:
- I am 28 weeks pregnant today
- The baby is doing well
- I am at home

Now here's the rest of the story... this past week I ended up in Labor & Delivery. I got the flu and ultimately went into labor. I was admitted and things slowly got under control but lost what little cervix I had left. I was sent home Friday on strict bedrest so we are now just taking things day by day. After all we went through with the triplets we were really hoping for a semi-normal pregnancy this time but it turns out that is not going to be the case. We are working on arrangements for the day to day care of everyone around here and trying to keep things as normal as possible. So far the kids are all hanging in there, probably better than we are! We would appreciate it if everyone could keep this little one in your thoughts. I have already told Parker and McKenna to talk to my stomach and explain to their little brother or sister that the first couple months are no fun out here if you decide to come this early!

Many thanks to our friends and family for your support and a very special thank you to my parents, brothers and Aunt Marianne, Sandy & Nancy. I don't know what we would do without all of you. I continue to be amazed by your love and support for us.

Sick, sick, sick

I would love to post our Easter pics because we have some great ones but right now the flu has invaded our house. Poor Ashlyn has been sick, sick, sick. She has had a terrible flu since last Friday and by Monday our pediatrican took one look at her and sent us to the ER because she needed rehydrated through an IV. She has been a toughy though and did great with her IV and everything else she had to go through at the hospital. Well just when she was starting to perk up and we thought we had gotten through it without it spreading to the rest of the house McKenna started with the same syptoms. So far she is staying hydrated, thank goodness, but is battling a high fever. So back to the pediatrician we went. She gave us the okay to send Ashlyn back to school (Ashlyn was VERY happy about this, she almost jumped off the exam table) and confirmed that McKenna has the same. So we are hoping for two things right now... a fast recovery for McKenna and no flu for the rest of the family! Parker moves so fast that maybe there is no time for any germs to hit him :)
Hopefully Easter pics will be up before Christmas!

18 months old!

Today the babies are 18 months old... it has been an amazing year and a half. Parker and McKenna have grown into thriving, healthy little people and are more than we could have ever hoped for and, as always, we miss our little Hadley and wish she was here to celebrate this milestone with us too.
Here's is what our toddlers are up to now:

McKenna
24 lbs. 1 oz, 32 inches tall
Words-Mommy, Daddy, Parker ("parpur"), Sissy ("sushi"), apple, cheese, cracker, turkey, chicken, milk, up, down, all done, again, eat, ball, bath, bye bye, go, eww, more, "baa baa" for sheep, "moo" for cow, "baby peepee" whenever one of them stinks :)
Signs- more, all done, eat and milk



Parker
20 lbs. 1 oz, 30 inches tall
Words- Mommy, Daddy, bye bye, apple, turkey, cheese, ball, bath, up, "baa baa" for sheep, "moo" for cow, eww
Signs- more, all done, eat, milk and baby

Bye, bye

The past few days McKenna been gathering things that we need to go somewhere and then saying "bye, bye" over and over. Yesterday she followed me around the kitchen dragging the diaper bag behind her for the longest time. The girl is determined! Well this morning she saw my vest and had to have it on and then wanted my purse too because she had decided, once again, we were going "bye bye." She walked around the house all morning like this and was thrilled with herself. Thank goodness Daddy was home, he took her for a little drive so she could finally go "bye bye."

Dancing Machines

The kids are turning into great little dancers. They love music and stand in front of the cd player bobbing up and down until I turn it on. I caught their moves on camera tonight but watch closely, it doesn't last long and doesn't exactly look like dancing either :)


Ms. Teenager FINALLY let me get a picture or two of her tonight. She's so grown up!

Ashlyn and Parker showing his silly face.

"Hmmm, how quickly can my hands on those glasses?"

Bye!!

Happy St. Patty's Day

We finally had another nice day this weekend so we headed over to the park. Our poor kids have been inside for so long they had no idea what to do. They figured it out quickly though and in no time Parker was helping himself to all of the wood chips he could eat! They had their cute St. Patty's Day shirts on so I thought I would pull up their picture from St. Patrick's Day last year. Amazing that this was just a year ago...

5 months old

17 months old!

Saying "hi" from atop the slide

Traffic jam at the bottom

Walking with Daddy... I think this is one of my favorite pictures ever!