Morgan.....

Here is an updated picture of Morgan resting.....we are having the best time with her. It is amazing...she can lift her head and turn it already. She will "buck" so you have to be extra careful carrying her. She smiles and looks all around. She is funny....as she sounds like a baby pig squealing when she screams out...you can't help but laugh at her. Thomas and Maddy love to give her kisses, touch her head, and hug her. They are really gentle...actually, surprisingly gentle!!! There has been no jealousy so far and they seem just fine with my nursing and holding her. I couldn't ask for them to have adjusted better! Thomas is a bit on the fussy side with another round of teething....it is hitting him sooo hard. All in all though, it has been a smooth transition! I do think I need to consult the medical books though as so far there hasn't been much rest on this end and I feel as though I am really holding my own- with exception to my back. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me! There is just sooo much to do to get ready for when Shannon goes back to work this week. I know it will all come...so I am trying to pace myself! Thank you all for your kinds words of support and prayers....please keep them coming!!! I have to thank those that have been so supportive since we've been home....my mom (Nana), Shannon's mom (Nonnie), Cindy, Donna, and Stacey. THANK YOU...with all my heart and love....THANK YOU! Thomas and Maddy thank you too as they have love the added attention and play!

Say "Cheez-It"

Here are Thomas and Maddy in the forbidden pantry(please don't look too closely :).....we are trying more and more to let them in so that maybe they won't find it soooo tempting.....they always make a dash for the door whenever it is open...I loved the look on Thomas' face as he chewed on the "Big Cheez-It Box". P.S. Please add Thomas to your prayers as he is teething yet again...bless him! It is sooo hard for him and he is an emotional roller coaster that we all end up riding!

Shower Time

I just had to share these.....Thomas and Maddy LOVE shower time with daddy!!! It takes all four of us to get the job done. We have a wonderful two person walk-in shower...so for the angels it is like going to the water park! They cry when I take them out to dry and dress. Shannon is such a good daddy to share his time in the shower with them...plus it takes a lot off my back (which is still really hurting me) since I don't have to bathe them in the kitchen sink each time! Hope you enjoy!!!

Here is the after......all clean and smiles for the camera!

Angel's Among Us.......

Here is the newest angel to our little family....enjoying some rest time at home!!! How truly blessed we are!!! I feel soooo fortunate this Thanksgiving to have brought this little one home on Thanksgiving as well as my birthday!!! What a joy she has brought us all....what a joy all my angels bring me!!!!

Welcome Morgan!

Shannon and I would like to share with you the joyous news!!!! Morgan Campbell Smith was born at 2:45pm, Tuesday, November 24th, 2009. The beautiful angel weighed in at 7 pounds 3 ounces, 19 1/2 inches long. She has a head full of hair like Thomas did and big beautiful eyes like her sister Maddy! What a joyous event! We were scheduled to be induced, but as it turned out....Morgan was already making her way once we got here! Once checked in and assessed, she was already 5 cm. It didn't take long to get things moving for her arrival! What a blessed day! Shannon was truly amazing throughout the whole delivery!!! Nana (my mom) was also able to join in on the delivery...though just barely! When Morgan decided it was time to join the party...she moved quickly and we were a bit worried both Nana and the doctor wouldn't make it! All in all it was a beautiful and blessed event!!! We have so many to thank but want to especially thank all our family and friends for the prayers of love and support! We also want to specifically thank Jackie (Nonnie), Cindy, Donna, Stacey and my parents for the extra support with our angels back home....Thomas and Maddy! Here are a couple of pic's....

Fire....

For those of you that have visited our home in the winter know we love a good fire!!! Our daddy builds the best!!! Here are the angels enjoying this wonderful tradition!!!!

Counting down the days till Tuesday.

Happy Boy.....Does he even know what is in store........

Here are pictures of Maddy helping me clean the floor....too funny! You can tell I spend a lot of time on my knees cleaning and wiping! I know already she will take it as seriously as I do!!! Thank you for your help my princess angel!

On the way....

Well, Morgan wanted me to share with everyone that she will be making her debut on Tuesday, November, 24th.....just two days shy of Thanksgiving and my birthday!!! What a birthday blessing!!!! We were quite surprised (as if anything does anymore) when we found out yesterday that they want to go ahead and induce next week. She has done soooo well growing and playing and staying strong. She has responded well to the steroid and has managed to keep the level 1 heart block in check. However, the doctors don't want to take any further chances by letting her just hang out in utero that they are going to go ahead and induce on Tuesday. I totally trust their judgement...though I hate to put such a hectic rush to every one's holiday week....but an angel isn't born everyday you know and Thanksgiving comes each and every year! Please read below the specific prayers we are lifting for our angel girl and our precious angels, Thomas and Maddy.
1. A safe and healthy delivery that is natural just like before...no c-section or complications!
2. Morgan will have a healthy heart that has NO effects of the lupus antibodies as well as all her other organs being healthy and working as God designed them too!
3. A beautiful time of bonding with Shannon and I before coming home to complete our family of FIVE!
4. That Thomas and Maddy will not feel the change in schedule and care with family and friends in and out....that they will be flexible and patient and go with the flow as we welcome home their new baby sister. Praying that they will welcome Morgan in without hesitation and find the new "baby" a complete joy!!!! (Maddy loves to say "Baby")
5. That we can enjoy the blessing of this week and then move forward to begin our new chapter and life of normalcy in the Smith Home!
6. That Family and Friends know how much we appreciate ALL the LOVE and SUPPORT and that they know we do NOT take for granted the sacrifices and adjustments they have made for us!!!!
7. That the doctor's appointments will finally CEASE and we can just go about the routine check-ups and appointments instead of the back and forth weekly!!!!
We truly feel blessed, and I don't take a minute of this pregnancy lightly...it has been a lot on everyone but what joy and what love is about to arrive!!! Thank you for your prayers!!!!

The latest in pics.....

Hope you enjoy the following pictures.....these two angels bring me soooo much joy!!!! I love being able to share their precious little faces, actions, and adventures with you!!!

We are beginning to feel better...though I have not spotted the tooth that I believed to be coming for the little man..you can see here how red and watery his eyes and nose are...bless him!

Maddy....her usual busy self....all smiles and and BIG brown eyes.....she is a regular chatter box....I tease saying she speaks Chinese as she loves to just walk and chatter it up!

So...the newest fun in the Smith household is a shower with daddy. Here is Thomas making faces at me through the shower door....if I weren't sooo pregnant I would have been rolling in the floor!!! It was hilarious!!!! It actually reminded me of the ultrasound pictures.....

Already fighting the scale....or I guess I should say fighting over the scale....they think they are at the zoo when let loose in our bathroom....they love it.....then wrestling with Daddy after dinner.....notice who is wearing the Strawberry Shortcake hat.....

Tacky Thomas.....he was all dressed up and loving it....had us laughing uncontrollably!

As you can see...the hat is the subject of attention! It went back and forth throughout playtime!

My Granddaddy Jones used to tease me about my "cutting my eyes" at him.....I loved catching Maddy doing the same thing!!! Thomas is still chewing, drooling, and acting as though he is teething....but no signs of a tooth as of yet..praying for some relief for this little guy!!! Teething hits him soooo hard!!!!

Hope you've enjoyed the latest in our pics.....have a blessed week!!!!

Weekend pics....

So...last weekend it was Maddy that cut a new tooth...molar to be exact. Now ....our poor Thomas is going through the teething process. For some reason though...his teething takes twice as long and is ten times harder on him than it is Maddy. Bless him....fussiness, runny nose, sneezes, and so on....it takes a toll on everyone! You will notice his little red nose in the photos....but I did manage to capture some adorable smiles!!! Even all "snotty" and fussy.....he can melt my heart!!!
P.S. The last pic of Maddy is her and Nana trying to make me smile.....she could pass for a little Mother Mary in a Christmas Pageant....couldn't she????

Friday the 13th....

Nothing bad here....all great news!!! We had 2 appointments today! Monitoring first: Morgan did great....heart beat looked great and she played and showed lots of movement...not that that has been a problem!!! She keeps me rocking and rolling! We then had a heart ultrasound with our pediatric cardiologist. What a blessing....they still have us labelled with Level 1 heart block...but as for the doctor.......he feels really good about our little girl! The levels today were at the same if not better than our last appointment! He even said we didn't have to return until delivery! We will have and EKG or 2 at that point to be sure but he is feeling really good about our little girl!!! Oh what joy we feel....singing praises for sure!!! At this point...there looks to be NO long term effects to her heart in which to worry about! I am most thankful to our doctors and this steroid that is protecting her...even if it does mean no sleep! Oh...and I did find out that my even heavier than usual appetite is another side effect of the steroid...oh well, enjoy it while I can....bring on the sweets!!!! Have a blessed weekend everyone!!! Thank you again for all the love, support and prayers!!!

Playing....