Sisterly Love!!

It's truly amazing how much love Addie has for her brother. I'm so blessed that she has taken to him so well and can't seem to get enough of him. I know there will come a time when she will have issues with her brother but I'm so glad they are off to a good start.

Rhett Douglas Franklin!!

Yes!!! He is finally here and I'm FINALLY getting around to blogging about him. He was born on October 3rd, at 11:40 a.m. He weighed 8 lbs. 11 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. He came out with the umbilical cord wrapped around his shoulder. The doctor apologized to Jeremy for having to cut it instead of him so that he could come on out. I don't think Jeremy was too upset about it!! My labor and delivery process was a breeze - some say that I'm lucky and I would have to agree completely. I had the lovely epideral around 7:30 a.m., was numb by 8:00 a.m., was dialated to a 5 by 10:00 and in one hour was dialated to a 9. He came fast!! Three pushes and he made his way into our world, with virtually no pain on my part and no tearing either!!

Apparently I've been blessed in this area of my life. However, with Addison the painful, emotional toil of this entire process came later and with a price. With Addie labor was a breeze but when I got her home I was stressed, I was having difficulty nursing, ended up having a bladder infection and developed Bells Palsy three days after she arrived and it lasted for 4 weeks, through Christmas. It was awful!! During the course of this pregnancy I prayed continuosly for an easy delivery and a semi-stressfree recovery but I think that as much as I am blessed in the birthing process I am just as cursed in the recovery process.

When Rhett was born I was so relieved to see him take to breast-feeding so easily and do it so well. I felt so good about myself as a mother and thanked God over and over for this blessing. However, a few days after we got him home he was beginning to decline in the nursing area. He fussed constantly, had difficulty latching on and screamed all night. I did not know what was wrong. He was wetting his diapers so I figured that he was getting what he needed. Well, on Tuesday morning I took him to the doctor for a wellness checkup and the doctor ordered lab work done. He said that Rhett looked jaundice and he had lost over a pound since he was born. I freaked out!! However, somehow I knew that he would be o.k. They sent us home and once we arrived we got a call from the nurse saying that his jaundice levels were too high and he was dehydrated and that I needed to bring him into the hospital. I lost it!! The hospital was not a place that I wanted to be taking my baby three days after I brought him home. I was emotionally a wreck and was angry with everyone, the doctor, the nurses, and myself. I felt like I was a bad mom for not supplying him with the nutrition he needed to survive. I was devastated and was fearful that Bells Palsy would return because again I was stressed out. I spent two days in the hospital with Rhett and it was not a fun experience. They had him under the bellirubin lights all day and would come in a poke him often to take blood samples. I never felt so helpless and responsible. Luckily his jaundice levels and sodium levels began to return to normal and as I could see the light at the end of the tunnel I began to feel better.

During the course of our stay at the hospital I was blessed with a few things. I was blessed with precious time that I got to spend with my new son (time is so precious when they are so little), I was blessed with wonderful daytime nurses who reassured me and were so good with Rhett, I was blessed with the fact that my milk finally came in (even though it wasn't much) it was a start and so Rhett is successfully nursing again (with a little supplemental formula), I was blessed with the time to reflect on what a precious and fragile thing babies are and how wonderful it was that he recovered.

So, we are home now and doing well. Although every day I check Rhett's skin color and wonder constantly whether or not he is turning more yellow again. I'm paranoid!! I look forward to the future that we have together and am so thankful and blessed that God gave us this special son.

Oh - and no Bells Palsy!! Hurray!

The Franklin Family

My three most favorite people in the world!

Rhett Douglas Franklin

Addison is a great big sister!

I SURVIVED THE CORN MAZE!!!

O.K. - I'm nine months pregnant and I went with my class yesterday on a field trip to a corn maze. I was a little nervous about riding the bumpy bus so I chose to follow the bus in my car - wise choice I think. It was a gorgeous morning when we arrived at the farm and my students were super excited about finding their way through the maze. I, myself was a little skeptical about the entire situation. I mean, an almost due pregnant lady trapsing through a jungle of corn, feeling trapped and helpless if something were to happen and I'm with a bunch of 4th graders who would probably panic more than I would. Anyways, as the time approached for us to enter the corn field I was determined to make it through. I also thought that if it did put me into labor that wasn't such a bad thing (I'm very ready to have this kid). So, in I went with three 4th grade girls and my student teacher to keep me company. I have to say I don't regret my decision to join them. I mean, the terraine was bumpy and wet but my sweet 4th grade girls kept running ahead and letting us know which ways were dead ends so I was able to cut through that corn maze in no time and make it out in about 1/2 hour, without any falls, contractions or water breakage. I had prayed earlier that morning that I would be able to enjoy this time with my class before I leave them for 6 weeks. I have to say I felt great throughout the entire field trip and was able to have so much fun with my kids. It was a good day!!

We are on our way in - YIKES!!

Trapped in the corn but "oh, what a beautiful morning"

YES!! We made it out!

They think they are so funny!! I think I win!

My Sister Get's Hitched!!

Well, my sister finally got married!! My family has been praying for the right person for her for a long time. She finally found him and he was worth the wait!! They make such a great couple and I know that they will live happily ever after. Her wedding was on Saturday, September19th in Meridian and it was beautiful, and just what Katie wanted. She is currently enjoying her honeymoon in Disneyland and I have to say I'm quite jealous. I look forward to the wonderful memories that we will have in the future with Katie and my new brother. I also look forward to the neices and nephews that I will get from the two of them - they will be super cute!! Can't wait so watch them in their new live together. I love them both dearly!!

Getting ready!!

Tired Flower Girl!

Dad and Katie!

The Happy Henbests!!

Labor Day Weekend!!

I have been meaning to post something about the wonderful weekend we had during Labor Day but time (and other things) have been stealing the precious moments that I use for blogging. We were so blessed to go up to my grandma's cabin for this much needed three-day getaway and were even more blessed to have some of our favorite friends join us. We enjoyed the cool mountain air, watched the deer in the yard, floated the river, enjoyed cozy campfires roasting marshmellows ( I don't think I will ever have smores again without recess cups now - Thanks Kristen!!!), played fun games , competed and watched many close ping-pong games, hiked up to lightning creek (where Todd was constantly chasing after the kids - just in case a cougar might jump out and eat them!! - You think I'm kidding) and had many wonderful relaxing moments of good conversation. It was just what we needed as the year began it's craziness. We can't wait to get back there sometime soon!!

Landon and Addison enjoying the feel of the river

I'm sure they are talking about politics!

They really argued all weekend!!

The preggos!!

Name our baby!

Since we've been pregnant we really haven't discussed names very much. We've come across a few that we think we like but haven't had that moment when we just know "that" is the name we want. I spent 1 hour yesterday on the computer looking at baby names and I'm all named out. I wrote down a few (O.K. 10) that I liked and Jeremy looked them over and didn't really approve of them - WHAT!!!!!!! I think since he got to name Addison that the naming of our son should fairly fall on my shoulders. I didn't realize that he was that opinionated about names! It's a process that we need to figure out since I only have about 6 weeks left - my doctor thinks I'm coming a bit earlier than expected, just because Addison was a week early. Well, if you have any name suggestions we (o.k. I) would love to hear them. I'm sure we will come up with something and I'm not too worried, it's just fun to hear what other people come up with.

It Has Begun!!

The school year officially began with kids and all bright and early Tuesday morning. When I mean early I mean like parents were at school with their kids at like 7:30 a.m. - Nothing stresses a teacher out more than having parents and children arrive early and you don't have everything ready. It worked out however and at 8:20 a.m. the bell rang for all 22 of them to file into my classroom and take their seats. The first few minutes after they are all seated are the worst few minutes of the year - I'm always nervous for what I'm going to say to them, how I'm going to come across, what they will think of me - it's a weird feeling!! Anyways, so the last couple of days with these new kids have been good! I have already discovered the students that will test my patience daily, figured out who will be on "America's Most Wanted" in 10 years, who will be working for a multi-million dollar company and who will be content to stay in little ole Melba and have lots of kids working on the family farm. Yes - it's that obvious in just 2 short days. However each of these kids pose a different challenge and personality that I always grow to love - I'm looking forward to getting the know them better. I think it's going to be a great year!! Wish me luck!