December: The Month Everything Came Together

 Hello and welcome to December!! The month we've all been waiting for. Well at least the month this little family has been waiting for. Here's a run down of what we did:

• Mackenzie was invited to another birthday party for a classmate.

  

  Pokeman themed, she was one of a few girls.

  
  
• We decorated Christmas cookies. Finley got a little carried away and did a swipe of frosting on every cookie and licked a bunch for good measure. Even though those cookies were "for" someone, we decided it was best not to eat them!
  
  
  
• We went to DC to celebrate a cousin's birthday and walk the Mall to receive stamps in her National Parks Passport. Mommy, being 37 weeks pregnant at the time was struggling with the distance. After going up to the top of the Washington Monument, we walked to the Lincoln which is about a mile away. It was decided an electric scooter was needed so she didn't go into early labor. 

  

  It was a very cold day. We even saw snow flurries!

  
  
• We helped decorate Grandma's Christmas tree!
  
  
  
  
  
  
• We welcomed Daddy home on the 14th. This time not to be separated!

  

  That night Daddy and Mackenzie made
  Peanut Butter Fudge for her teachers.

  
  
• Finley discovered a new way of talking to baby brother. See photo:
  
  
  
  
• Mackenzie played in her first ever piano recital. She played a Jingle Bells Duet with Mommy and did a great job! She started in August from the very beginning and can now read the notes on the staff. What a huge accomplishment!
  
  
  
• Mackenzie wrapped up her first "semester" of school on December 17. She had a great last day of school. They wore pajamas and did fun activities relating to The Polar Express like eat hot chocolate, snack bar, help the elves and read the book and watch the movie.
  
  
  
• The girls (and Daddy) had a blast at Sky Zone or "the jump place" as we call it before the big day. Mommy sat on the sidelines and held coats and water.
  
  
  
• Mackenzie is now fully vaccinated! So proud of our girl for being brave during her second shot.
  
  
  
• Scott and Kiersten had one last date before baby. They went to The Alamo Drafthouse for dinner and a movie of Spiderman: No Way Home. Very fun evening.

  

  Didn't get a picture at the theater but yes of the donut run a few days earlier!

  
  
• The girls spent several days with Grandma and Grandpa Jackson while Mommy stayed in the hospital. They went to the library, read books, went to the park, made gingerbread houses and so much more!

  

  Mackenzie set up a tea party for her friends.

  
  

  

  Mixing away!

  
  

  

  Finley's Paw Patrol Palace

  
  

  

  Mackenzie's castle

  
  

  

  Scott saving the living room from baby spiders!

  
  
• We had a baby!

See? A jam-packed month.

On December 21, Scott and Kiersten dropped off the girls in Ashburn to spend a few days with Scott's parents while Kiersten had the baby and recovered in the hospital. On the morning of December 22, we drove the quick 5 minutes from our hotel to INOVA Fairfax to begin the pre surgery process. Check in, change into a gown and receive fluids via IV (ouch). Then answer lots of questions, see different nurses, an anesthesiologist and then wait. 8 o'clock rolled around and they hadn't come for Kiersten yet although that was the scheduled time for the C-section. We overheard the nurses saying how crowded it was. Guess no one wanted a Christmas baby!

By 8:30 they finally came to get Kiersten and took her back to... an empty OR. Everyone was like, "Where is everyone?!" Nurses, OB and the anesthesiologist eventually came in and prep continued. Kiersten got the spinal block and the numbing began. They laid her down on the table and then the anxiety of having a baby this way began to set in. She desperately wanted Scott, and to move her legs! Scott eventually joined her, covered from head to foot in protective gear (per usual for a C-section) and then in a few short minutes, they heard the joyous cries of their newborn son. Kiersten immediately let the tears flow unbidden and relief washed over her. She got to see him for a few minutes and then after some more weighing and a swaddle, Scott was holding him for a long time. In this our third C-section experience this was the longest time Scott has remained in the OR with Kiersten and hold the baby. 

Around 9:20 Scott went with some nurses and baby boy to the OR recovery room while the surgery team finished closing up. Kiersten was wheeled in 15 minutes later and rejoined the boys. Baby had been crying most of this time because the poor lamb was so cold! They finally wrapped him up in about 20 blankets and had him under a warming lamp and he was content. Once Kiersten stopped shivering and shaking (all normal side effects of the anesthesia) she held her son for the first time and all was right with the world.

Yup, masked up the whole time.
It's a crazy COVID world.

Two hours later the new little family was moved up to a room where we would remain until Christmas Eve morning. Due to a rise in COVID cases, the hospital visiting policy changed so that no visitors, other than the labor support person, Scott, was allowed to visit. So it was a quiet, somewhat relaxing, vacation like recovery and bonding time for Mom, Dad and baby.

We were discharged on Christmas Eve and drove to Ashburn for the girls to meet their new baby brother. Both were smitten at first sight. Grandma Jackson spent a while holding her newest Grandson and we all had an enjoyable time being united as family.

We made the crammed car ride back to Manassas that afternoon and spent Christmas day and the rest of that week with Kiersten's family. 

It's been a busy, busy month and even busier Christmas week but we've made it out the other side and are taking things one day at a time learning and growing as a new family of five.