Our New Baby and lots of "catch up pics"

Well not literally "our" baby... as in Bennett, but it's the next closest thing! Baby Michael arrived on November 11th, weighing 8lbs. Anna had a scheduled C-section and everything went great. He is such a sweet baby. So far he eats and sleeps great and is beautiful. We are so thankful for such a healthy, wonderful baby! They have been home for about a week now and everyone is trying to get adjusted to having a new baby in the house (I can't wait to see how that goes when Bennett comes home with us). I will be posting lots more pictures of baby Michael.

I have been a little absent from the whole blogging thing, but we have had an incredibly busy last couple of months! Number 1- we've MOVED!! We are still in the same neighborhood, just a different house. We've been here about 3 weeks now and are still trying to get settled in. During the process of the move Drew managed to spill a "liquid" all over our laptop... or at least that's what I told the geek squad at best buy. Actually she peed all over it one day when she was watching a movie on it... I thought I might have a heart attack! But, after a couple of weeks at the computer hospital it came back safe and sound.

Number 2- Baby Michael came!! I know that is only 2 things (well 3 if you count Drew peeing on the computer), but they are pretty HUGE! Blogging took a back seat for a while... anyway here are lots of catch up pictures!

Michael Leigh Hendrix

Proud big sis showing Drew and Megan her new baby

Amber bought all the girls their "own" babies to take care of

Pumpkin Patch

Drew on the hayride

Daddy got to go with us to the pumpkin patch!! Brandan and Drew in the maze

It's.... SUPER DREW... Drew in her Halloween costume!

The super hero and her trusty side kick

Drew's "big girl" room at our new house (somewhat finished)!

Lookin' Good Don't Come Easy

In case you were wondering these are high fashion shoes for a 2 year old! Drew insisted on wearing these ALL day today. I tried to persuade her that these might not be the best choice in footwear due to the chili temperatures, but she wasn't hearing it. These are what she wore while we ran some errands, visited the car lot to see her daddy and most of the time we were at home. Needless to say they definitely did not go with the jeans and shirt she was wearing.

Well after a day of wearing these, Little Miss Fashionista found out that beauty can come at a price...

These pictures don't quite do her little toe justice, but those "high fashion heels" left two NASTY blisters on her pinky toe.
She's learned at an early age that cute shoes are usually not the most comfortable. I think most girls can agree (and their feet) that "lookin good ain't always easy"! As they say... No pain-No gain!


We fixed those ouies up tonight with some Nemo band-aids... maybe tomorrow she will make a more practical shoe choice ;) ... maybe

A Long Visit at the Dr's Office

Well, I really don't feel like posting because I am so tired, but I figure this needs to be documented and friends and family will appreciate it. I went yesterday (Thursday Oct. 1) for my routine 22 week check and boy was it a more eventful appointment than I expected! Brandan almost didn't go to this check up with me, but I am SO glad he did. I definitely needed him there.

We went through all the normal procedures... urine sample, weight and blood pressure and then checking the heartbeat with the doppler... that's when things started getting interesting. Dr. Singleton found the heartbeat right away, Bennett was moving and kicking like crazy :) and from what I could hear I thought it sounded great. But, I could tell something wasn't quite right because Dr. Singleton kept listening and listening to the heart rate and being very quiet. One wonderful quality of him is that he keeps a great "poker face" and explains everything thoroughly and without emotion.

When he was finished, he explained to me that as he was listening to the heart rate it would slow considerably for several seconds and then pick back up into the 140's. He said it could be nothing, but he wanted me to go back to ultra sound and check it there as well. He explained more in details, but honestly, all I could think was "what is wrong??!!" Well, I lost it! Heart issues and sick babies are very fresh and raw on my emotions right now with things I just went through with a good friend from college and it was just too much !

We went back to ultrasound and she ran the ultrasound for around 10 minutes. Then she explained that she found the same thing and that it happened twice. We then had to see Dr. Singleton again and he explained that we would be going over to Baptist to check in and be monitored for about 2hours and see a specialized Doctor that could tell us exactly what was going on. Needless to say I lost it again!

Skipping through many details... we checked in on the 2nd floor and 2hrs turned into overnight! It turned into overnight mainly, because, at this point it was getting close to evening time and the specialist that I needed to see had already gone home. Which, in a way was a little comforting because I knew if it was urgent they would've called him to come back to the hospital (and they didn't).

The entire time at the hospital I was calm and felt a peace with everything and really felt God's hand in the whole ordeal. Bennett only had one episode through the night. This morning the specialist came around 10 am with his fancy, high-tech ultra sound equipment to check every inch of Bennett! This Doctor by the way, is Dr. Chattalane (spell??) and he is amazing!

The doctor checked everything... brain, umbilical chord, stomach, hands, feet, spine, all measurements... you name it and he checked it! Last and definitely not least, he checked his precious heart, every chamber, valve, blood flowing in and out and anything else that involves the heart. He could find nothing wrong structually or anywhere else. He said and I quote " His heart couldn't look more perfect!" (tears run down my cheeks just being so happy!)

As far as the drop in his heart rate, it can't really be explained. It probably happens more than we know in growing and developing babies, it just so happened that we caught it several times yesterday. Bennett is healthy and everything looks perfect and as it should for 22 weeks gestation... oh and something kind of exciting he said by his measurement I am actually measuring 23 weeks!

It was a whirlwind of an appointment, but also a blessing because with the detailed ultra sound I got to see every inch of Bennett and it made me feel so good and reassured. Babies are truly amazing! God is pretty amazing too!

Thank you Anna, Rachel and Mom for taking such good care of Drew. Thank you family and friends for praying, calling and texting. And thank you Brandan for being right beside me, I love you.

Sorry this post is like a novel, but whewww that felt good!

Petting Zoo

Friday morning we went and enjoyed the fair's petting zoo. Drew had a really good time seeing all the different animals. They had pigs, cows, goats, donkeys, rabbits, roosters, ducks ... pretty much every animal found on a farm. Due to the fact that we went in the morning, the fair wasn't actually open, but we did sneak onto the merry-go-round and take some pictures.

Drew and Jack

This rabbit was bigger than our dog

Saline County Fair Parade

Yes... the Saline County Fair Parade is all that you can imagine it is and more. Somehow or another my mother got dubbed as the "Grand Marshal" of the prestigious parade. Which basically just means that you are the first in the parade line. So, the car that was first in the parade was her and my dad's antique Volkswagen convertible bug. Well of course we had to get Drew and Evie in on the action which in turn means that Anna and I get thrown in on the action too! Drew and Evie sat up on the back with my mom while Anna and I sat in the car with my dad and threw candy to everyone. It was a family affair people!! A good time was had by all, but I must say it was a touch on the embarrassing side... you know with the waving and all. :)

Drew's First Day of School

Well technically it is Mother's Day Out, but it is what Drew calls school for now. (I have no clue why this is in bold and underlining?) She woke up so excited that she had school today, but as the morning progressed she got less and less excited. I think it really sunk in that she would be at school and not with me, when I put my gym clothes on. She asked if I was going to exercise and I told her "yes"... then it started... "but I want to go with you". I just ignored her because I knew she would love it once she got there! And of course she did! She has wonderful teachers and great friends in her class. She made a cute little apple tree with tissue paper, ate her lunch and even took a nap believe it or not! I think it is safe to say it was a good day at school for Drew. Hopefully Thursday will be great too!

Drew eating her "first day of school breakfast" and informing me NOT to take her picture... notice the angry eyebrows!

We're here! Drew reading over her information tag on her lunch box


Welcome Poster with everyone's name


There's Drew and Evie's names!

You can see Drew's attitude at this point..."I want to go with you and stop taking my picture!"

And the day is done! Look at those faces... "school is hard work"

Nothing says "school day" like a fuzzy pony tail and a worn out face!

Twice the Fun

Well... Brandan, Drew and I found out yesterday that we will be having a baby boy in February (4th to be exact)! Going into the ultra sound I really had no idea on boy/girl, so I was pretty surprised when she said "boy"! I made her show me the "boy shot" twice and it was definitely there. My sister is also having a boy in November and for me to be having a boy as well just feels so surreal. We already have Drew and Evie and these two boys (Bennett and Micheal) will be almost the exact weeks apart as them. I can't put into words how I feel, I am more than excited about the arrival of Bennett and to hear Drew say his name and talk about a "baby brother" makes me tear up everytime. God is so good and I feel like I really don't deserve these blessings...I can't be thankful enough. The pregnancy has been good so far and we continue to pray that it continues to go well. I have some belly bump pictures that I have taken and will probably post those... I am a little apprehensive about posting "bump" pictures just because I am not crazy about my pregnant phisique, but to watch the progress of growth is pretty neat, so I think I will! Oh, Bennett we love you so much already!