Catching up: Christmas 2010

Christmas was a little stressful this year, wondering if McKinley would be coming early. Fortunately, she stayed put and I was able to enjoy Christmas out and about with family.

On Dec. 23 the Catlin clan got together in Bountiful for dinner, games and catching up. It was fun to see all my cousins and their families. We were missing the Washington folks, but everybody else was there - even the Schwabs from Virginia. Here we are trying to get the kids to take a picture. Lincoln was crying and Corbin is hiding. Thanks to Maren for trying!!
On Christmas Eve we went to the Porter's. We had dinner and games, along with the Nativity (words and songs!). Of course there were presents. We usually take a family picture each year (on a timer on someone's camera - nothing fancy) but we didn't this year. We will have to remember for next year.
Christmas morning we woke up and opened presents before heading to the Pays. Lincoln got a "bike" and loved it from the moment he saw it. We had to wake him up so we could leave on time so he was slightly asleep when we started down the stairs. The first thing he said was "Bike!" It was cute.
He got some books, a shirt and a little car as well. I gave Jefferson a remote helicopter and trick car. He gave me cash :) [I have since bought some clothes with that money!]
We got dressed and headed to my parents for presents and breakfast. It was a little more low-key this year since we only had our family and my Grandma/pa Pay. Usually we invite more family, but since we saw them Dec 23, we didn't. It was nice! We didn't take any pictures at the Pays.

The next day was Sunday. I tried to get a nice picture of Lincoln. I think this was the best one. He doesn't like taking pictures. The other ones are pretty hilarious :)

Dog Food

Today I was feeding McKinley upstairs and Lincoln was running around. He went downstairs and was being very quite. I started getting nervous. When McKinley was done I headed downstairs to see what Lincoln was up to. I met him at the top of the stairs with a guilty look on his face. He had dog food on his face and shirt that he had spit up. The rest of it was on the stairs and the tile. Bear came and ate the big pieces (gross) and I cleaned up the rest. What was that kid thinking? :)

On a completely unrelated note, here is a picture JP took the other day on his phone. It's a fun family picture (minus him).

McKinley Kate

McKinley Kate arrived Monday, December 27, 2010 at 7:52 a.m. She weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long.

McKinley, you were a scheduled c-section because your brother arrived that way. With 3 weeks to go, while the doctor was checking your heartbeat he noticed it was irregular. It would beat fine and then miss a beat. I had to get hooked up to a heart monitor and he did an ultrasound. The heart monitor didn't show anything to get too worked up about and the ultrasound showed you were breech (good thing I was okay with a c-section!). Because the doctor wanted to be extra cautious I went in twice a week to be checked on the monitor. You were always doing okay, even though every once in awhile a beat would drop.

We made it to the scheduled day, 2 days after Christmas. With Lincoln I was induced and labored before having him the next day. With you, your Dad and I got to the hospital at 6 a.m. and got checked in and headed upstairs. The nurse had me change and started hooking me up to machines and prepping me for your delivery. It was all very smooth and quite fast. When I had my IV and had talked to the anesthesiologist I was ready to be wheeled into surgery. They took me into the room and I got my spinal tap. The doctors came in and then they brought in Dad. A few minutes later, just before 8 a.m. you were born! The doctor said, "You have a little princess!" and (even though I knew) I was so excited.

They took you to the nursery to get cleaned and tested. Dad went with you. I had to be sewn back up and taken back to the recovery room. The drugs worked really well on my left side. I could feel things on my right. So the anesthesiologist kept moving me and trying to get the drugs where they needed to go. Finally they were done and I was ready to go back to the room.

We all met up a little while later in my room and got to spend some time together, just the three of us. We took some pictures...


Around 10 or 11 a.m. they were ready to move us into my "permanent" room for the next 4 days. You stayed with me during the day and only went back to the nursery to be checked and so I could sleep at night - although sometimes they couldn't get you until midnight or they would bring you in early to feed and I just kept you instead of sending you back. You were a great eater and sleeper. The nurses knew you were breech because you loved your legs sticking straight out :)

We had a few visitors, but not a lot which was great for my recovery. Dad and Lincoln came every day to hang out with us. Lincoln watched movies and didn't really get that you were his sister until we told him you were his baby. He loved you from that moment! He calls you McKinley-baby and loves to give you kisses and toys.


We went home on Thursday, December 30.