Big News!!!

I know, I know, you all were probably hoping I was going to be posting Henry's birthday, Christmas, and Julia's blessing.  Sorry that will come soon.  Life has been pretty hectic between getting the primary ready for this year, getting ready for Disney World (next week), and all of us having RSV.  But the main reason for my world to come to a halt was waiting to hear if Caleb got picked up to become a Radiation Health Officer in the Navy. That news came last Wednesday, and guess what Caleb got the position!!! They only had one opening and lots of applicants for this position and Caleb got it, whoot whoot.  There are only about 80 Rad Health Officers in the entire Navy. Caleb pretty much will be dealing with nuclear medican.  We then had to wait another week to hear where they were planning on moving us.  Caleb needs to have his one and only sea tour next.  Meaning we need to be stationed where there are aircraft carriers.  The only places that had openings that we could tell where Guam and Norfolk.  When Caleb told me this I got a pit in my stomach. I knew and had explained to Caleb I felt like we needed to be in San Diego. I didn't know why but that is where I felt we should end up. The only carrier out there is the Reagan and it is dry docked right now and will not be ready for sea until 2013. So for the next week I prepared myself for to go to Norfolk.  Well Wednesday afternoon Caleb called me to inform me he knew where we were going. . . I took a deep breath to prepared myself. . .then asked him where. He said. . .

I know you all are secretly jealous, and want to come visit me :o)

What What, that is right San Diego.  Caleb told me his time schedule will work perfectly with going here.  We will get there sometime in August so Valerie can start school.  Caleb will then go to 6ish weeks of training.  When he gets back they plan on putting him in the hospital for training until the Reagan comes back from dry docking.  After his sea tour they are planning (could always change) on putting him back in the hospital.  This will allow us to stay in the same place for two duty stations. Nice!  I can't tell you how excited we are but at the same time so sad.  We LOVE it here in Charleston and will miss it terribly (me most of all).  There are so many memories here in Charleston.  Our first home, first job out of college, two babies born here. But I have come to find out that the only thing that is constant is change, and I have to go along with it. So instead of dwelling on the sad I am going to see this move as a new adventure for our family!

The USS Ronald Reagan. The aircraft carrier Caleb will be attached to for the next 2 years.

Happy Halloween

This Halloween we did a Wizard of Oz theme.  Valerie was Dorthy, Henry was a munchkin, and Julia was Glenda the good witch.  I was supposed to be the wicked witch and Caleb the Scare Crow.  Needless to say with a new born I didn't get those costumes done. The kids had lots of fun trick-o-treating with Grandma Tracy and Caleb this year. Henry hated his hat, that was until Caleb told him it was his candy hat. Once he realized what that meant he kept that hat on and ran from house to house.  Between the trunk-o-treat and trick-o-treating the kids came home with a stash, which by the way we are still eating. There was so much I bet you I can use it in the Christmas stockings.  That way I don't have to buy Christmas candy. Hahahahaha

Dorthy, Munchkin and sleeping Glenda.

The Munchkin rebelling and ripping his hat off.

Sleeping Glenda

Glenda and Dorthy

Dorthy, and Munchkin with Daddy after a long night of trick-o-treating.

My Little China Doll

I promise I will post Halloween soon, but I have to laugh. I just didn't understand why people would come up to me and ask if I was carrying a baby doll.  I actually thought it was kind of odd, that was until the other day.  Valerie decided to pose one of her baby dolls by Julia.  When I saw what Valerie had done I laughed so hard.  I finally understood why people kept on coming up to me.  What do you think?!

Sorry for the sideways picture.  I don't know why blogger flipped it :o(

Julia Lorette Tracy

She is here!  So far she has been the most perfect baby. In fact she has been the best baby out of my three so far.  Valerie loves her and is always doting on her.  Henry hasn't shown much interest in her yet but he had enjoyed being my helper.  He does a great job toting and fetching things I need for her.

So here are her birth stats:

Born: 10-04-2011 @ 2:17pm
Weight: 7 lb 02 oz
Length: 19 inches
Dark hair! (my other 2 were blond from the get go)
She has very long fingers and toes.  Poor little thing gets that feature from me :o)

For those of you who want to know her birth story here it is, and those of you who don't care, you are more than welcome to skip this part.

I went into the hospital Oct 4th to be induced.  Due to my heart and extremely fast labors and that I was already progressing, inducement seemed to be the best and safest option for us.  I was admitted at the bright and early time of 6am. About 8ish in the morning my Dr came in checked me and noticed that the little stinker had pushed herself as far up as she could.  So instead of breaking my water like was planed, I had to be put on pitocin to try to get her lower.  I had contractions but nothing strong and regular.  Luckily for me when they came in at noon Julia had dropped low enough they decided it was ok to brake my water. Once my water breaks my labors are extremely fast! About 1 hour after my water broke I got my epidural.  After my epidural was in place the nurse checked me and at the time I was 5 cm. For the next 15 min they keept a watchful eye on me because at about this point during my labor with Henry my blood pressure plummeted and I passed out.  Guess what, I started to do that again with Julia. The nurse had to eventually give me a small dose of epinephrine.  Shortly after, Julia's heart rate started dropping because the contractions were so strong.  They put me on oxygen. Once every thing was stable the nurse left. No joke about a minute after the nurse left I felt this intense pressure and burning even with my epidural. I told Caleb to call the nurse.  The nurse came in checked me, than looked at me with panicked eyes and told me I had progressed from 5cm to complete and the baby crowning in about 5 min.  She yelled out the door for my Dr.  Luckily for me my Dr was just around the corner. The nurse and the Dr were frantically trying to get everything ready.  Before we knew it the Dr had one hand on Julia's head trying to keep her from falling out while she tried to get gloves on.  My poor Dr ended up delivering Julia bare handed and with out any protective gear on. My body pretty much pushed her out with out me pushing. I only had to push once. Soon after Julia was born nursery came in.  She was born so fast they were not able to get her first apgar score on her.  Labor and delivery this time around was so fast I really didn't even feel like I had had a baby.  We were doing so well that 24 hours after she was born we were released to come home.   Since then we have been doing really well and have been enjoying family and friends visiting.