A Few Photos

Yesterday, Parker really wanted her and Caroline to dress in their matching shirts and hairbows and take a few pictures. So, we got them all dressed up.. I knew not to throw the bow on Caroline's head until right before. She had showed some irritation before the bow. Parker was of course extremely photogenic and I was happy to get some updated pictures of the girls. I still have yet to have some professionally done. Slacker mom right here! So, here are a few of the pictures that we took yesterday. Ejoy!

Pinterest OBSESSION!

Its true. I'm obsessed with Pinterest. I look at it EVERYDAY and for hours sometimes. I can't help myself. There are SO many great ideas. From food, to art, to do it yourself projects. I have tried out a few recipes, have done some craft projects, and can't wait to do some home improvement projects. Here are just a few things that I have done by scoping out Pinterest on a daily basis.

I can't wait to do more!!! Yes, I LOVE the Razorbacks!! :)

I Only Have to Drive How Many Miles...

For the past two years, I have been driving about 120 miles round trip to work. Teaching in Pine Bluff has been exhausting, stressful, and rewarding. The trip down there was long, the days seemed to be long, the years seemed long, but there were some great kids and even better coworkers. I have met some great people while teaching there. After having Caroline, and Parker about to start Kindergarten, I was ready to teach closer to home. It is pretty common knowledge that finding a job in the Benton or Bryant districts is pretty difficult. I knew I didn't want a summer like I had last year. I went to interview after interview with no such luck. This year started out pretty promising with two interviews in the Bryant district but no job offers. I was starting to get quite worried because I didn't have a job before Caroline was born, and I wasn't being called for any more interviews. Towards the middle of June, things started looking promising. I was called in for an interview with the Glen Rose School District and for a position in the Benton School District. I went for the interview with Glen Rose, had an awesome interview, and was offered the job ON THE SPOT. That has NEVER happened to me, so I was super excited. I accepted the job just in case nothing came of the Benton interview. The next day I interviewed at Benton Jr. High and had a pretty good interview with them as well. They told me I would hear something by the next week. Monday morning around 8 am, the principal called and offered me a job with their district. I was over the moon with excitement. Not only had I been offered one position, but I had been offered another. I accepted the job with Benton and can't wait to get started in August. Parker will be going to school in the same district that I am teaching and will be at the elementary right down the road! Lastly,  a great friend from  Pine Bluff got a job at the school as well, so we will be teaching together AGAIN! All so exciting and I can't wait to get the year started. I have of course been scoping Pinterest for classroom ideas and have slowly been working on projects at home. It's great to be a Benton Panther!!

Just a Little Behind...

I might be just a tad bit behind on my blogging. I have been scolded asked to update my blog by a few close friends. I'll try to catch everyone up with some of the things that have been going on. For starters..

This little cutie made her appearance!

Caroline Grace Stearns was born May 16, 2012 at 5:30 pm at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. She weighed 7lbs 12 oz and was 21 inches long. She made a very exciting entrance into the world. I began having contractions that Tuesday during school and noticed that they were pretty consistent. They were coming every 5-7 minutes and were getting to be pretty intense. I was forced told to go home and try and get some rest. After a couple of hours of rest and no relief from the contractions, we made our way to the hospital. Parker was in denial the entire time that we were actually going to the hospital. Not until I was in a gown and in a bed did she finally get it. (Poor thing). Because I was 36 weeks and 6 days according to my doctor, they didn't want to admit me. So, I was given all kinds of medication to stop the contractions. Nothing seemed to be working and at 4:30 a.m., my water broke! This little girl was ready to come out into the world. After my water broke, it seemed like my labor was really progressing. I was dilating very quickly and the contractions were coming and quite painfully at that! I was given my epidural and was ready to start pushing about 1:30 p.m. I started pushing and she seemed to be making her way but then was not making any progress. I kept pushing and kept pushing and was finally EXHAUSTED! The suggestion was made of doing a c-section. Never in all of my thoughts during pregnancy and going to the hospital did a c-section come into my mind. Once it was suggested by my doctor, I panicked and began bawling. To me I felt like I had failed. I wasn't able to deliver a baby, so I felt like I had done something wrong. I know this is a silly feeling to have but was what was going through my mind nonetheless. So, I was taken to an operating room and they began prepping me for a c-section. Obviously there are many risks when you have any type of surgery but at this moment that was the furthest thing from my mind. All I could think of was that I was freezing and I was sleepy!!! I didn't even realize that I had been cut open and a baby had been pulled out of me! I know I heard some crying (which is the most beautiful sound btw) and happened to look over at Jeff and see my beautiful baby girl looking back at me. Everything about the delivery is fuzzy ,and Jeff had to brush me up to speed on when she was born and how much she weighed. What seemed like a pretty normal delivery turned into a scary one. The doctor and nurses seemed a little panicky and actually asked Jeff to take the baby back to the room. Apparently when they pulled Caroline out, the doctor hit two major arteries in my uterus and I lost a LOT of blood. I believe it was 3 units. While I was still in the operating room, I was given a blood transfusion of 2 units of blood. I knew something wasn't right, but of course I couldn't figure out why. I was going in and out of consciousness and kept asking the anesthesiologist if I was okay. He assured me I was but still.... There were tons of thoughts going through my head as they tried to fix me up. I was sewn up (more like stapled) and taken back to my room where I was greeted by SO many family members. All were here to see the new addition, but were also here to make sure I was okay. I am VERY blessed to have so many caring family members. Caroline was born healthy and was doing great. I was monitored and given more blood and seemed to be doing great too. Finally, Sunday we were able to leave the hospital and GO HOME! My parents were gracious enough to keep Parker for me while I was in the hospital and while we come home and became acclimated to another little one in the house.

Parker was finally able to see her little sister and she has been smitten with her like the rest of us :).

She loves to hold her baby sister, feed her, snuggle her, change her diaper (yes, its true).

We all seem to be adjusting wonderfully and are loving this little snuggle bunny that we have been blessed with!