Emma's Story

I love this blog for the history it holds.  It makes me sad to see the gaps in our families story that have not been recorded here.  But life gets crazy and these post get put on the back burner, some times for years.  Before the details fade, here is Emma's birth story...

April 14 was the first of many scary days in this sweet girl's gestation.  I had know for awhile that I had a marginal placenta previa, but on this day I found out what that really could mean.  Late one night while Adam was working, I started to have some bleeding.  The first time in four pregnancies...scared was an understatement.  After Adam got home and we spoke with my doctor, it was decided that I would go to the hospital.  The bleeding stopped while I was there, but I was admitted to be monitored, have some blood work, an ultrasound and the first of two steroid injections.  

I was released the next day and given instructions to take it easy and not to do any heavy lifting.  Fast forward four weeks, two more hospital stays and complete bedrest...now it is the morning of May 7th.  I woke up on the couch with the all too familiar feeling that the bleeding had started again.  I called my doctor one more time, assuming she would either say relax and stay laying down or come to the office for an exam.  Instead, she said, "today is the day."  She told us to meet her at the hospital as soon as we could and she would deliver Emma via c section.  While I was ready to not be pregnant anymore, I was only 35 weeks.  What did that mean? Would my baby have any health issues, would I be able to hold her and nurse her, would she be able to come home with me...so many questions!  Thankfully, several hours later we had all those questions answered.  At 1:50pm, Emma Soule Zima was born, 6lbs 9oz.  Adam went with her to the NICU to be checked out while I was in recovery.  

She checked out healthy and happy, such a relief! We spent the next several days recovering from surgery and falling in love with this sweet little addition to our family.  Emma is now two and half weeks old and I can't imagine her not being here!

Emma Soule!!!

Just over two weeks ago the fourth bundle of joy joined our family.  Emma Soule Zima joined our family on her own schedule, paying no regard to my very long pre-baby to do list.  Mama was a little bit scared of the unknown, but thanks to modern medicine she was healthy and was able to come home to be with her brothers and sister!

Farm Fest 2013

Last weekend, we spent our Sunday at farm fest. Several local farms open their doors to the community. We only had time to make it to two different farms, but the kiddos had a good time...especially Elliott our animal lover...maybe future farmer.

Lady Laide's first piggy-tails!!!

Applecider donuts...yummy!

Elliott could have watched these chickens all day.

or the pigs, or the sheep or the cows, etc...how long before he is asking for a pet of his own??? Hopefully he asks Adam, because I will not be able to say no ;-)

New York Fall=Apple Picking!!!

Every year since I was pregnant with Isaac we have gone apple picking at the same local farm. Five years and three babies later I still get a warm, fuzzy feeling we we go there. There is a rusty old tractor outside of the country store that I always photograph the kids on. Do you think they will humor me and sit on the tractor for pictures when they are eighteen??? It was a beautiful, warm and sunny day. We left with three bags of apples and lot of plans for pies, crisps, sauces, etc!!!So Yummy!!!


Now that Elliott is getting older, he wants a turn to "drive" too!

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Adelaide getting in the tractor action.

Adelaide's first apple picking adventure.

I am not sure how many apples Elliott actually picked, but I do know he left about ten half eaten apple behind.

Elyse's first trip apple picking since moving back north.

At the ripe old age of four, Isaac is an apple picking expert.

Reading, Writing, and Arthmatic...

...and everything that goes along with Preschool. After an amazing and busy summer, Isaac started his second year of preschool last week. I feel so lucky to have found such a wonderful place to nurture my sweet Isaac's quest for knowledge. Living right down the street from the school has also really been a great way to get involved in our "new" neighborhood.

Thanks to Pinterest my kids have gotten to try lots of fun activities, usually they end up pretty messy...all in the name of fun, right?!?  Today, while the little ones nap(amazingly at the same time!) Isaac spent some quality time with a tray of baking soda and vinegar tinted with food coloring.  In the end, he also experimented with mixing the food coloring and how lemons and baking soda interact. 

The aftermath...I should have taken a picture of his hands...oh my!

Tomorrow, we are off to collect supplies so we can try out more Pinterest ideas...super excited to finally put the hours of Pinterest browsing to good use.

Happy Birthday Day Daddy!!!

Saturday was Adam's birthday...number 33! We, joined by one of Adam's sisters, celebrated at our new favorite spot, John Boyd Thatcher State Park.  There is a trail there that is just perfect for our little hikers, both in distance as well as difficulty.  We had a post hike picnic dinner on a blanket by a playground.  Adam is not much for gifts, which makes pick something out very challenging.  The boys picked out some Monsters, Inc toys...Isaac was certain that Adam would love them.  He tested them out for Adam on Sunday ;-). I tried to get a good photo of the kids that Adam could put on his desk at work...three uncooperative children in one photo shoot is a workout!  Over all it was a wonderful day...happy birthday Adam...we love you!!!