Kuhlman Baby Key

Paul

Julia

Petra

Nathan

Nathan Pictures

The hospital had been a little concerned about how much weight Nathan dropped before we were discharged.  (We think he was down to about 7 lbs 12 oz.)  Based on my experience with our previous 3 babies, I wasn't too concerned.  Even so, I told Julia that my number 1 job when I got home was to feed Nathan as much a possible.

At his 2 week checkup, he weighed 9lb 3.8 oz.  Mission accomplished.  The pediatrician told me that I didn't need to maintain a 1 pound  per week weight gain program.  

Sarah and Nathan

Paul, Julia, and Petra got to spend last night at their grandparents house.  This was good timing, because Nathan was awake and uncomfortable for a couple hours last night.  Steve and I REALLY appreciated the fact that we could sleep in a little bit.

Nathan in his "Midnight Rock Show" shirt, because he earned it last night.

At three weeks old, he can hold his head up pretty well.  Sometimes.

They're lucky they are so darned cute.

Costume time at home

I was on the phone with my mom yesterday when my three older children invaded, wearing pirate costumes. I let them talk to their grandma, who got called a "scurvy dog."  hmm...

When they first descended on me, Paul had the pirate hat, eye patch, and a sword.  Julia was wearing the pirate costume, and had the pirate hook.  Petra was wearing a pirate bandanna, and lacking a sword or hook, she wielded a plastic toy saw from the kiddie workbench.

My fierce pirates

Julia posing while on the phone

Paul, threatening me with a sword

Pirate Petra

Petra's Birthday Party Nov 2

Petra asked for a car cake for her birthday.  On the Sunday before her birthday, she specified that the cake should be decorated like a garbage truck.  

I don't believe I've ever vetoed a cake design for my children before.  After some negotiation, prompting and  discussion, Petra and I agreed to a Mater cake.  (That might have been what she meant all along.)

We had her party for her on November 2nd.

Mater Cake

My big 3 year old, blowing out her candles

I love that she put a pink tutu on over her pants.

Welcome Home Nathan

 After 3 nights in the hospital, Sarah and Nathan got to come home on Wednesday.  Yay!  As you can see from this picture, Nathan seems to like sleeping at home.

Julia is the most enamored with him of any of the other kids.  She was very excited to have Nathan home.

Petra's mostly just glad to have mommy home. 

Sarah and Nathan are both recovering well, and Nathan is putting on weight.  Now we start to figure out what our new "normal" is.

Welcome Nathan Thomas!

Sarah was scheduled to have a C-section on November 6 (Election Day), which was 4 days before her November 10 due date.  Apparently that was cutting it a little close, because Nathan decided he wanted a November 4 birthday.  So Sunday morning, November 4, Sarah started having contractions.  And by the end of supper they were getting close enough together that she was probably in labor.  So off the hospital we went.  After a couple hours of "observation" in which her contractions became closer together and more intense, they finally agreed that she was in labor.  Yay! 

After that things happened very quickly as they prepped her for surgery.  And Nathan Thomas was born at 11:13pm Sunday evening.  As you can see from this picture, he weighed in at nearly 8 lbs, 9 oz., making him the largest of our 4 babies.  He also measured in at 21" long.

He and Sarah are both doing very well, and he took to nursing very quickly.  Yay!

Thanks to the fine doctors and nurses that took care of us, and thanks to everyone that has visited, sent flowers, cards, emails, etc.  We're so pleased to have little Nathan in our family, and excited to get to know him better as he grows.

Tae Kwon Do Tournament

 Back on Oct. 27 Paul, Julia, and I participated in our first Tae Kwon Do tournament.  Now, we just received our yellow belts (which is the first belt after the starting-out white belt) a couple weeks before, so there's not a lot we know yet.  And if this hadn't been a local tournament hosted by our own school, we probably wouldn't have bothered.  But it was at the Jr. High school right near the kids elementary school, and it was hosted by our own Master Chung's Academy just down the road, so we participated.  Paul & Julia both competed in basic motions, which is several punches, kicks, and blocks that we had to learn for our yellow belt test already.  Similarly, I competed in the form competition with the form I had just learned as a yellow belt.  All 3 of us got 2nd place in our respective level/age categories.

Paul & Julia also competed in free sparring, which is fighting with pads and rules for up to 2 minutes.  Julia got 3rd place in her level/age category.  Here she is fighting fellow 1st grader (and blue belt) Emma.  (Julia's in the red hat.)

And here's Paul fighting another yellow belt 3rd grader.  (Paul's in the red hat.)

I'm really proud of both of them.  It was a very busy place, with lots of people watching, but they both tried hard and did well.  While we all had areas to improve, I was glad we all competed.  I'm especially glad Paul & Julia followed through with practicing and competing.  It was a great experience for them and a good chance to practice performing under pressure.