We just got to Van’s and Elle has nice shiner. Her eye has been swelling all day. We took her to the urgent care and it looks like she has a nasty bug bite.

A few drugs and the Doc says that sucker should go down by tomorrow.

When people ask, I’m just going to tell them she got in a fight at day care and you should see the other kids face.

Both girls began dance classes the beginning of January.  I managed to get them into the same class where they practiced Jazz, Tap and Ballet, well as much as you can in 45 minute sessions.  Starting dance later in the session as we did automatically meant each class time was in preparation for the big dance recital coming June 1st.  Kenna and Elle were both very excited and with Elle being so young and never have danced before seemed very seasoned and far from having stage fright.

Our big day came. Hair was done just so, leatards just perfect, the right toast colored tights, dance bags packed with water bottles and snacks- we were ready to go.  Pappa Ed came as well as daddy, me , Lexi and Jeff.

We arrived on time-barely with new baby Ava in tow, let daddy and the girls out of the car while I parked it.  Little did we know daddy did not grab the dance bags and the girls would have no shoes, no water or no snacks.  Shoes being the biggest deal of course.  Jim manged to snag us some pretty descent seats as we all settled in for a long 2 hours.  I mean lets be real when you attend these things the only thing you really care about are your own kids.

Kenna and Elle took the stage 3 separate times and looked absolutely adorable.  We were such proud parents and were amazed with our just turned 3 yr olds moxie for getting out there like an old pro.  All in all it was a fun day, the baby behaved and the girls did not miss a beat- ok, maybe one.  We love you Elle and Kenna and look forward to the next dance recital! Great job.

I have a new alarm clock. It’s not very reliable, as I can not set it. I never know when it’s going to go off. It doesn’t have a snooze and that is a major inconvenience. It has no radio or a funky buzzing sound. It’s not one of the old school round bell ringing clocks from the 50’s. However, this clock is very rare.

What this alarm does have far outweighs what it doesn’t. My new alarm always makes me feel good when it wakes me in the morning. My new alarm wakes me in the most gentle way, no jolting me out of a dead sleep. I look forward to my new alarm going off, no matter how early it wakes me. OK, maybe not too early.

My new alarm clock is Elle.

Lately, when Elle wakes up she quietly walks into our bedroom, works her way to my side of the bed, puts her hands on the side and slightly pulls herself up until she can just see over the mattress. As I hear her working her way up the side of the bed, I open my eyes and my new alarm clock has started my day.

I have the best alarm clock in the whole world.

Morning Daddy!!!

Big sis Lexi holding me.

Well better late than never I always say.  Welcome to the Keenan family our newest and last addition Ava Rene.  This little princess was good and ready to come on her own terms.  We entered the hospital on a Fri night, April 2nd-which just coincidently happens to be Elle’s birthday with some signs of being in labor.  We arrived at around 11pm and were greeted by an awaiting wheel chair.  This was very foreing to me, having someone waitng on me like that, it felt awkward.  This is protocall for the ER if you have called ahead to let the DR. on call you might be in labor.

Shortly after being wheeled into my room, fully expecting to be sent home- I not only was at 4cm dialated but my labor had begun all on it’s own with contractions coming every 4 minutes!  I was staying, who would of thought?  We were in for a long night of contractions, some pain and a much anticipated epidural.  This continued on until about 8 am until my water, which for the record has never spontaneously broke on it’s own, did.  Now I was ready for my pitossin to get me over the 8cm hump which I had stalled at a couple hours earlier.  Once I had the pitossin and my water was broken it was time to go.

Lexi,Kenna and Elle were all in the room with me,along with Jim of course.  Once again as I did with Elle’s delivery I was forced to hold off on the pushing as my Doctor was still a half hour out.  Lots of pressure and really feeling the urge to push Ava out, this was a tall order asking me to wait.  Once all the players were in place I believe I pushed for about 10 minutes, or so I’ve been told.  Out of  nowhere this once again perfect little being in every way has made her way into this world and onto my awaiting chest.  Instantaneously I knew this baby girl came to us with a very sweet, and calm soul.  She never cried out in some obnoxious way like “Other” babies do, she just looked around with her big eyes ready to be here.  Ava was a pro at the nursing thing.  The second we tried latching on she was ready to go with no instruction.

We have been home 6 weeks now with Ava.  Life of course has changed a bit, not as much as one would think having another baby to add to the chaos.  We get a little less sleep,however, she does give us and has from her third night home a stretch of anywhere from 5 to 6 hours straight before her first feeding so we can’t complain to much.  We have to allot more time to get out of the house and make sure she is well fed or else!  Other than that we are all doing well and the big sisters are lovin’ the baby sister to death.  Jeff and Lex are a huge help and love holding her as well.  Thank God for older siblings!

I will  do my best to continue to add updates to our blog and keep everyone abreast of our families milestones.

Ava Rene has arrived! What a kid. Looks nothing like her sisters. She came at 9:30 this a.m.

She is the sweetest, softest little girl you could imagine.

She was 7Lbs 6 oz’s and 21 inches long.

Mom and Ava are doing great!

Welcome to the family Ava. Hold on to your bonnet, it’s gonna be a ride!

Love Mom and Dad.

P.S. – Mom is the one who feeds you. I’m the one with the scratchy face.

Alright, we’ve made it through the night. Gotta love a hospital cot and the floor.

Ava has chosen not to show her head yet.

Lexi, Ellens Dad, and Kenna showed up around 2:00 a.m. It was a big hospital slumber party.

The sun has come up and we’re closer to the big moment!

Come on Ava, let’s see that little head of yours.

Looks like little Ava wants to come out. About 3 hours ago, Ellen was feeling some strong contractions, so she called the Dr. The Dr. asked her to come in just to be safe.

Good thing we did. The contractions are 3 1/2 minutes a part. She is dialated 4 cm and her cervix is thinning. We are getting close.

We’ll see if Ava’s entrance into this world is prophetic, because Elle’s birthday party is today at 12:00 noon. Easter is on Sunday. We planned on having her on Monday after all the festivities. But, no such thing!

I guess Ava has a mind of her own already.

Stay tuned, the family is about to grow by one!

I can’t believe it has been 3 years since we brought you home and added you to this crazy family.  Even though you are the “littliest” you are far from little. You for sure do not like to be called “yittow”, that’s Elle talk.  I must tell you, I’ve always  said you march to the beat of  your own drummer.  I love how confident you are in yourself even at your sweet young age.  Keeping up with big sister Kenna is your first priority and nothing will stop you from that. I love to watch and hear you two interract every day, at times fighting and then go right back to playing.  Even if  Kenna hurt you or started the fight you always tell her “sorry” .  I have never heard such a chatter box in all my life.  Even if I’m busy you manage to just keep on talking and telling your story as if it doesnt even matter.

The joy you bring to my life is indescribable!  Even though I adore your sweet angel voice and toddler ways it will be exciting to watch you grow up and carve your own way in this big world honey.  I love you with all my  heart and soul Elle-  Happy Birthday cutie.

Love and Kisses,

Mommy.

You sit quietly in the corner murmuring under your voice. It’s a cute song, a short conversation with the toy your playing with or the reading of a book. To an unfamiliar eye, a quiet, soft-spoken, mild mannered child is happily entertaining herself. Yet, to those of who know better, it’s just one side of the fiercely independent little girl you are. It’s a girl who is doing what she wants on her own terms.

There is a spirit in you Elle. A confidence and security beam from you. There is a sense of self and strength not seen in some adults. You walk your own path in a way that suggests maybe the rest of us are walking the wrong way. Yet, you never look back. You never say follow me. You walk, and the rest of us follow.

I love you Elle

You have a love that is deliberate. There are no superfluous hugs, or cute little smiles with an agenda. Every kiss, hug, smile,squeeze and every “I want you” radiates with authenticity. You’re hugs are weighty with love, as they are never dolled out with disregard.

Elle, Daddy cherishes your hugs, the big squeezes, the “I love you the mostest’s” and your sweet kisses. I cherish everyone, for how deep they come from inside of you. I feel honored to be the recipient. I feel special, because you chose me. I feel happy, because I know you’ll kiss and hug me again.

Elle, you’re diligence amazes me. Your raw, humble confidence teaches me. You have a mature soul. Not an old soul, but a mature soul.

Yes, you are still a child. That reality is never lost on us. You let us know everyday. You are a special child, Elle. You have a fire in you. You have a shriek and they are piercing. Why you shriek is still a mystery. Sometimes, it’s because you are unhappy and want us to know it. Other times you just seem to want to yell. Oh, lucky us!

Your voice is LOUD, it carries through out the house, and your not shy to throw it around. You have presence, it is growing every day.

To call you spunky is trite. But, ya got more gumption than the average kid.

I admire your strength Elle. I admire your sense of self. I admire your confidence.

You sing and dance over and over to “Hard Knock Life” and “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.” You are the first to want to go play in the snow when we wake up in the morning. You get excited to go skiing every time we are in the mountains, even though you’re still on the bunny hill. All the ski instructors know who you are and have all fallen in love with you. You have your own Vail Ski School fan club.

You have a special something deep inside you. It’s a spark, a flicker, a fire, that drives you. It sets you apart. It’s molding you. It’s molding me.

It’s amazing to watch and I’m excited to watch it turn you into an amazing young woman.

I love you Elle and thanks for calling me Daddy.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Wow, here we are….baby girl is due to arrive on April 5th.  Here what seemed like a pregnancy that would never end is indeed coming to an end and very soon.  I have to say this has been by far the toughest pregnancy I have ever experienced and this is for many reasons.  Abnormally tired for the first 16 weeks, very emotional at times, major hip pain throughout the day-worse at night to the point of keeping me up about every hour or two to change sleeping positions, basically feeling old!

You really  do not know the meaning of sleep deprivation until you experience it for yourself and this is by far the worst symptom I have had to deal with.  Nothing can prepare you for the emotional roller coaster that is coming your way under these circumstances.  Let’s just say having a newborn who has her days and nights mixed up sounds much more appealing to me, I will at least get two straight hours of sleep!  Crazy.

We have a very busy last week ahead of us here in the Keenan house hold.  First and foremost Elle turns 3 on April 2nd, we will celebrate with a party on the 3rd.  Easter then follows the very next day- Hello, the bunny is coming to our house.  Ok then the very next morning at 5 am we check into North Suburban Hospital to be induced.  Hmmm, that’s not too crazy is it?  Mom has a double whammy coming once the baby comes I get to keep my epidural only to look forward to a tuba ligation.  What shines at the very end of all this “ick” stuff is the very fact that I will be holding my sweet, fresh, soft, adorable little baby girl.  Nothing beats that and truly makes it all 100% worth it all.  I even have to admit the finality of not ever being pregnant ever again is an odd concept and a bit sad to me.  I am at the age where it is no longer going to be my choice, but my bodies.  You just think you will be young forever and have all these choices to continuously make about your body when you want to make them.

My time has been an amazing trip and would not change a thing.  I have or will have 5 beautiful children and have been blessed enough to become pregnant right away, then go on to have healthy pregnancies as well as smooth deliveries- no cesareans.   I am officially “done” and feel ok with it.  Now I have the next couple of years to get to know this baby inside of me and I can’t wait!