Valetine's Day video from my boys!

I totally meant to post this before, but we were having trouble with the file size at the time and I had forgotten about getting it on here. I finally got it to work though! Yay! The quality isn't that great because we had to make it a really small file conversion from imovie, but it's definitely still viewable (and cute!). For Valentine's Day this year, we thought it would be sweet for each of us to have one of the kids as our valentine since we've got a boy and a girl now! This was part of the Valentine's Day surprises that the boys did for me. They're so sweet!

Rachel praying!

I couldn't help but post this video I took this morning. Rachel now instinctively brings her hands together every time we say to the kids, "It's time to pray!" That's my girl! :)

Sick :(

So we have had a bout of sickness going through our family recently; Caleb was in the hospital for a few days earlier this week and ended up being diagnosed with a viral infection, and now Rachel seems to be having some feverish issues too. Hopefully she doesn't come down with something as well! Caleb had to go to the ER after his reaction to peanut butter about a year ago, but he didn't have to stay over night. This was his first hospital stay where they admitted him. He went in on Monday after a fever of 104.7 and an extremely elevated white blood cell count, and was discharged on Wednesday. The poor little guy had everything from a chest x-ray to a spinal tap to ensure it wasn't something extremely serious like pneumonia or viral meningitis. Thankfully it turned out to just be a viral infection, not something bacteria based. Praise God! We were relieved. So we're home now and Caleb is on the mend, but as I said, our new worry is trying to keep Rachel from getting sick. So now that we're home, I thought I would post a few pics from when Caleb was in the hospital, and then some fun recent videos of Rachel as well. She'll be 10 months old next week already!

Caleb having some tests done on Monday after they put in the IV.

Caleb in his hospital gown (in the hospital crib).

Caleb's dinner one night...not too bad! :)

A special "get well" surprise from Grammy and Pops...a new camera!

And here he was on Wednesday, back at home after being discharged. He was already throwing balls around and tackling Daddy, so we knew that the old Caleb was back!

The first video is of Rachel playing peekaboo.

This is a fun video of Rachel pretending she's a frog while we were killing time at the hospital (she has started doing this ever since she heard the "Jump, Jump" frog song at our library class). Too cute!

And finally, one of Rachel dancing during one of our worship nights (Caleb was dancing too of course)! She likes to bounce that's for sure!

Rachel's Labor and Delivery Story

So the other day I finally got inspired to chronicle our children's birth stories (sad I know...it took me 9 months to do Rachel's, and Caleb's isn't even done yet), so I thought I would post Rachel's to start. Not all of the family who follows this blog has heard this story in detail, so I thought it might be a fun read for anyone who is interested. It's super long though so be warned! :) Caleb's story will hopefully be posted soon!

Rachel Joy Drapeau was due on July 19^th, 2009. We had a scheduled induction with Caleb because he was a week overdue, and we anticipated that Rachel might be the same way. Apparently our babies like to stay in the womb! On July 24^th, 2009 (5 days overdue) we prepared to meet our little girl as we had a scheduled induction for 7:00am at the Salem Hospital “Birthplace” that day (and we figured labor wouldn’t last all day, considering Caleb’s labor and delivery was only a total of 9 hours). Grammy and Pops were already in town all set to take care of Caleb, and we called the hospital around 6:30am to see if there was room to take us. The head nurse wasn’t sure so she told us she would call us back. While waiting for the call, we decided that we would head out for some breakfast at Dunkin Donuts to relax a little bit and enjoy the morning together to kill time while we waited. We also figured this would be best since Caleb was not awake yet, and it would be less traumatic for him to have to say an official goodbye. After eating breakfast, and the time being 8:30am with no phone call still, Jason drove us out to Winter Island and we both read for a little while to calm our nerves (again something to do as to not upset Caleb). It was raining and there was a nice peace about that time for us to center ourselves, read and pray a little. I (Val) was brushing up on some labor techniques in What To Expect When You’re Expecting, and Jason was reading something seminary related. Around 9am, after waiting over 2 hours and not hearing anything from the hospital, we decided to call ourselves to check back in. The head nurses were switching shifts, so they told us they would have the new head nurse call back shortly, and she did. They told us that they would be ready to take us at 11:00am. Since I barely slept the night before (typical for me when big events are happening) we decided to head back to the house and take a nap, even with the possibility that it would make things harder on Caleb. When we got there Caleb was eating breakfast with Grammy and Pops and was in a good mood. We slept from 9:15 to 10:30am or so, and then got ready to head out to the hospital to officially check in. Saying goodbye to Caleb was probably tougher for us than it was for him, because we knew that we would not see him for a few days (he didn’t know that, but we had planned for him not to come to the hospital, but rather meet Rachel and see us again when we came home for the first time). We arrived at the hospital at 11am and checked in. They took us to a room and the process finally began with Dr. Justine Gelinas (the same doctor who delivered Caleb happened to be on at the time) checking my cervix around 11:20am. I was 3cm. dilated and 80% effaced at this point. Over the next 2 hours the nurses commenced the in-room check-in questions and set-up of the heart monitors and such, and waited for the doctor’s approval to officially start the induction. At 1:50pm, Pitocin was administered. After about ½ hour of contractions, I asked if I could move to a rocking chair (on recommendation from my Pastor’s wife Dawn who said it worked wonders) and they allowed me to do so because they were still able to find Rachel’s heart rate there. With Caleb I wasn’t allowed to be on a birthing ball or pretty much labor anywhere because they couldn’t find his heartbeat unless I was lying down in the bed, so I was excited. While rocking we watched TLC’s “A Baby Story” (ironic I know, watching women labor while in labor). The contractions continued to get more intense and I was feeling some pain in my lower back (I had serious back labor with Caleb, and this pain felt the same). At 3:15pm my water broke on it’s own (gushing just like with Caleb!) and I asked for an epidural because the pain was getting intense, especially with the concentration of it being in my lower back, in the same area my back surgery was. At 3:20pm, Dr. Gelinas checked my cervix again, and I was only 4 cm. dilated at this time. We were a little shocked that things hadn’t moved along that much. At this point, I had moved back to the bed because first of all, the rocking chair was gross after my water breaking, and also so I could have my cervix checked as I said. I stayed in bed, laboring on my left side, squeezing Jason’s hand during the contractions while still watching some TLC during the break in contractions. After 20 or 30 minutes going by with me asking why it was taking the anesthesiologist so long, I started experiencing even more intense pain (little did I know what was about to happen!), and I started to feel nauseous. The anesthesiologist finally arrived about 35 minutes after asking for the epidural, which was around 3:50pm. They sat me up on the edge of the bed to prep my back for the numbing shots before the main epidural needle and administered those between contractions. While they were preparing to put the epidural needle in, I told them I felt very nauseous and they waited a minute to let that pass (as to not put the needle in when I might throw up and possibly injure me). When there was a break in the contractions/nausea they told me they were going to try to put the epidural needle in, and they were just about to do so when I threw my hand behind my back to stop them and said, “I think the baby’s coming!” I was feeling intense pain and a lot of pressure, so I was thinking it was Rachel’s head. You can imagine that everybody in the room thought I was crazy because only 40 minutes before they checked me and I was only 4 cm. dilated. The assisting nurse checked then and there, and could feel Rachel’s head while I was sitting. They turned me on my right side while they were getting ready to check my cervix again and I felt the strong urge to push (frankly, I wasn’t even trying, it was happening on it’s own…stopping a baby delivering naturally is like trying to stop a freight train!). All the while I was screaming, “Somebody help me!” and totally freaking out from the pain. So after another huge contraction, they had me turn to go back on my back to check me, and I was 10 cm. dilated, fully effaced and Rachel’s head was visible. She was definitely coming that’s for sure! The epidural procedure was ceased. I was not mentally prepared at all to have Rachel naturally, as we were expecting to have time to get an epidural like we did with Caleb. Jason asked a nurse near him if there was anything they could give me. They just quietly shook their head no and kind of gave the “she has to do this” look to him. Dr. Gelinas encouraged me by saying something like, “Valerie, I don’t think we’re going to be able to give you anything, so you’re going to have to do this on your own.” All of a sudden they were preparing for me to push, and Jason was on my left side coaching me as I pushed (Jason was holding one leg, and I think one of the nurses was holding my other leg at this time), and they all said, “Push!” It’s funny to say, but in that moment I was in so much pain and so all over the place mentally with everything happening so fast, I wasn’t even thinking, “Ok, time to push now” so I’m glad they said that. So I pushed 2 more times and Rachel’s head came out, and with one final push she fully delivered at 4:11pm. Dr. Justine Gelinas delivered Rachel just as she had Caleb. It’s crazy to think I went from 4cm. to 10cm. in a matter of 40 minutes, there were only four total pushes (including the one before they turned me on my back), and only 2 hours and 21 minutes of labor from when they began the Pitocin to when Rachel officially arrived. She weighed 8 lbs. 10 oz. (one ounce more than Caleb) and was 21 inches long (only ¼ of an inch shorter than Caleb…they were almost the exact same sized baby at birth). What a blessing she is to us!

Rachel's Baby Dedication

This past Sunday we had Rachel dedicated at church (a baby dedication is essentially when the parents acknowledge that the child is God's and commit to raising them with Jesus Christ as the foundation in their home). This is a commitment we made with Caleb, and one that we similarly wanted to do with Rachel. Grammy and Pops bought her a special little outfit for her special day! Unfortunately they were not able to make it up to MA this weekend because of Mom's (Grammy's) car accident this past Wednesday when she broke her ankle. Poor Grammy! We knew that all of the grandparents were with us in spirit though!

Rachel didn't cry at all, she just "talked" a bit throughout the event. :)

Pastor Troy praying over Rachel.

Our friends the Modaff's had their little girl Kaitlin dedicated as well. Kaitlin was born one week before Rachel, and it's been a fun journey with the Modaff's being pregnant together, having the kids around the same time and of course having them dedicated on the same day too.

Some family shots!

Playing around when we got home. Doesn't it look like Jason and Rachel are ballroom dancing? So cute!

Kisses from Caleb!

And finally the kids climbing Daddy!

A Few Videos

I thought I would throw a few videos on the blog since I just took one of Rachel climbing the stairs the other day (it's not the most thrilling video, but fun for the grandparents to see nonetheless). She is 9 months old now, and the last couple of months have been filled with crawling, pulling up and working on walking with her walker (and moving while holding onto tables, the couch, pretty much anything she can get her hands on)!

This is a video from about 3 months ago that I totally forgot to post before. It is Caleb making Rachel laugh with a toy, which is so cute to watch and hear their giggles. Rachel seriously thinks Caleb is hilarious, and she becomes more and more infatuated with him everyday!

Finally, here's a video of Caleb doing an ABC game on one of our computers. We don't let him do a ton on here yet, but it's amazing how technologically sound he is showing himself to be! :) He really likes to repeat the animal sounds as they are said, as you'll see!

Up to speed!

As a result of being, let's see, about 3 months behind in posting stuff on here, I decided that I would do one monster post with a small snapshot of each event leading up to now (I even have a pic from Monday on here...amazing right?) ha ha! But I really will try to get better at posting a little here and there instead of waiting so long to post so much. Caleb is almost 2 1/2 and Rachel will be 9 months old in a few days. It is so crazy! She just had her 9 month appt. and we think this is so interesting. Caleb, when born, was 8 lbs. 9 oz., Rachel was 8 lbs. 10oz. (and they were almost the same length). We looked up Caleb's 9 month stats and it was cool to see, Rachel just weighed in at 17 lbs. 5 oz. at her appt., and when Caleb was 9 months, he weighed in at 17 lbs. 6 oz. (again...only an ounce apart)! Now, Caleb was 2 inches longer than Rachel is right now, but we just thought it was funny that they are growing at the same rate pretty much. They both started as round little babies, and once Caleb started moving he really started to thin out to be the string bean he is today. It's so crazy to us that Rachel is starting to show the same pattern! Rachel is crawling, walking with her walker, etc. now, so I'm sure it won't be long before she officially walks. Caleb walked at 10 months, so we'll have to see! So here are some pics over the last 3 months or so of some of the things that have been going on!

Daddy went to a Red Sox game the other day and brought home Caleb a special present, a hat just like his! Don't worry he went out and bought Rachel a special new book too!

I just thought this was funny. I took this of Rachel after coming home from a friend's birthday party last week. She looked so cute in her dress; I was just trying to get a nice picture. She is normally a really chill baby, but that day she didn't want anything to do with having her picture taken!

They fell asleep together and were just the sweetest.

Just the other week Caleb used the potty for the first time!

Here are the kids and their Easter baskets from Grammy and Pops that they opened up Easter night.

Earlier in the day, we were all dressed up for church!

Caleb got a t-ball set from us for Easter and here he is showing us his stuff. Check out the video below, it was his first day playing with Daddy. He LOVES baseball!

Here was our first time taking the kids to the park in their new wagon from Grammy and Pops (that they got at Christmas) and Rachel's first time on the baby swings.

Here's a pic on St. Patrick's Day with Rachel in her outfit from Aunt Sue. Caleb wasn't interested in being photographed that day!

A few weeks before St. Patrick's Day, the kids and I went to York to celebrate Matt's 30th birthday. We got to see some family while in town at a lunch outing at the Olive Garden (there were others there, I just really liked this pic of Rachel and Aunt Ann so I thought I would post it!), and we went out one night for a special birthday dinner for Matt at Outback.

Here's just a cute pic of Rachel and Jason. Love this one!

This was our favorite Valentine's Day family photo.

Here are some pics from when Grammy and Pops visited in late January to celebrate Christmas (since we were in FL and MN over the actual holiday). One of Caleb's big gifts was a "My 1st Craftsman Tool Bench"!

Lots of presents!

Pops helping to set up the airport Uncle Matt got Caleb for his birthday.

Rachel loves her Grammy!

Caleb turned 2 in early January and his favorite gift from us was his first baseball glove. He had so much fun opening presents this year! We also took him to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate (and he had a party with his friends too around on another day). We also made cupcakes at home and helped decorate them (he also helped eat them too of course)!

I just had to throw in a few other cute Rachel shots from around that time! She's growing up so fast!

And last but not least, I think this was the last snowfall of the season. Caleb looks so cute in his snow pants and boots! He really loved pretending to shovel too.

And there you have it, the last 3 months or so in a quick re-cap!

Happy Pi Day!

Happy Pi Day, everyone!