NYC

*I had to throw this one in because it was so cute*
*Our little girl is getting so big*

Me, Emma, and my awesome Dad*

*My Sister and her new BFF*

*Sisters and Daughters*

Kevin is in San Antonio for a week. He is doing CLS training which is pretty much learning what the Medics and Corpsmen do on the front lines during war to help treat the injured. There is a simulation that gives them the sense of war and they have to go out and treat the injured in the middle of chaos. He says he is enjoying it and is learning a lot and appreciating our soilders more and more. Since he is gone, I decided to take a trip to visit my family in NYC. The kids did great traveling and I was shocked at how much stamina I had. It was great to see my dad since its been a while and I spent a lot of time with my brother, Aristy. My sister, Karina, came from Jersey to visit and Emma just loved her. She kept staring at her and was quiet with her the whole time. Joey had a hard time adjusting. He actually kept telling me he wanted to go home. I guess bed rest made him a home body. But he still played with his Grandma and seemed to be happy. We didn't do any big city sites because it was too cold. Maybe in the Spring.

It Finally Snowed!

*Kevin misses the UT mountains. Before*

*After*

*We didn't have a sled so we were ghetto and used a laundry basket!

*

We finally got some snow on Martin Luther King Jr . Day! It was awesome! Joey and I watched it fall all morning, excited to go out and play in it. Daddy suprised us by getting home at noon so we put Joey down for a nap and as soon as he was out, we went outside and played. It was so fun! We had a snow ball fight with good friends of ours that are our neighbors and tried to build a snow man but it was too soft. It doesn't matter- it was still fun!

Put the scale away!

So I started working out about 2 weeks ago- don't tell my doc- and though I am slowly but surely losing the weight, I had to put the scale away. I was driving myself CRAZY! I was weighing myself like 3 times a day. That is not healthy. So I told Kevin to put it away and only bring it out on Tuesdays when I weigh in with the Biggest Loser :). But I have a point in putting this post up. I decided that its not the number on the scale that matters. Its how you feel and how your clothes feel. I am so hung up on it because I can't afford to buy a new wardrobe and make them fit my post-pregnancy body. But I have a whole closet of clothes I love so I need to fit into those ASAP. So today I tried on my favorite dress to wear to church on Sunday and it fit, despite the number on the scale. So I realized that though the weight is a sloth, the inches I am losing from working out is helping me fit into my clothes. So though my weight is important because of BMI, the inches are equally as motivating.

I went to Discovery Health.com and signed up for the challenge and am able to track my progress there, my workouts, calories I intake, and best of all- they are giving a 30 day FREE pass to Bally Total Fitness. I went on Tuesday and it was great to be back in a gym- for free best of all. I can do A Lot in 30 days. I have also been doing the Firm workouts- which I love. www.firmdirect.com. They help you sculpt and lose fat without looking too bulky. And when its not 8 degrees- that's right you read that right- I take walks with the kids which helps me to promote health to at least Joey for now :).

So this new year, lets all put away the scale and be confident in the bodies we have been blessed with. But lets remember that they are a blessing and we should still pump iron and fill them with good foods to show our appreciation.

In Denial

I have been in denial to update our blog because I didn't want to take down my Christmas wall paper. If you know me, you know how much I love Christmas. But the site was down to do change it so I get a few more days :)!

Well, Mom and Dad Winegar came from Arizona and had Christmas with us. And my family came the next day to have dinner. It was a good, quiet year for us. But it was really nice. It was good because Joey is big enough to open presents and get excited so we looked forward to seeing his reaction. He got a train table from Santa and at first he didn't understand but quickly began to play with it and it was like pulling teeth to get him to open his other presents. Once he realized there was more, he was a pro at ripping the wrapping, even if it didn't belong to him. He got lots of Cars gear since he loves that movie, a Mr. Potatoe head, a race track, and books from friends. Kevin, as always, got video games, shoes, and we both got electric toothbrushes which we love. He got me a red Sunday coat, a Cricut, new sunglasses (RIP Chanel) and the new Harry Potter book. I am so glad J.K. is keeping my dreams alive. Mom and Dad got us a web cam so if anyone has one, call me and tell me how to use it :) Emma got fun clothes and little toys that she can play with when she is older. It was a good day and we were happy to be with family.

The next day my side of the family- Mami, Karina, Jose, Bianca, Sabrina, and Aristy- came bearing gifts as well. We had a feast for lunch and than they had to go because of work. But it was great because my mother was able to take a picture with her 4 grandchildren and that always makes her happy.

While Mom and Dad Winegar were here, we took them to the National Mall and walked and walked the museums and capital buildings. It was a nice day so it wasn't too bad. We also went to Mt. Vernon and saw George Washington's gravesite, plantation, and mansion home. We went to see the lights at the D.C. temple but I must have been taking so many pictures of Emma that my batteries died and we didn't capture that. But we saw Jenny Oaks Baker play her violin and that was a nice treat.

Emma is doing great. She is 7lbs 9oz now and the sweetest thing. I could hold her all day. Some times I do (Shh!). Joey is doing much better with her and tells her she is cute all the time, helps me with diapers and tries to put her pacifier on her when she cries. I love my children.

Other than that, there is not much to tell. I am just trying to loose weight and fit into my clothes again. Kevin is working hard and getting ready to take boards in March. Life is good. We are grateful.

*Emma, Sabrina, Bianca, and Joey

*This is my mother with her daughters and granddaughters- 3 Generations*

*Mom and Dad at the Mall*

*Joey loves his Sister or "Yister"*

*Overlooking the Potomac River at Mt. Vernon*

*She was tired of opening so many presents*

*Dr. Kevin Jay Winegar playing Rockband 2*

*Wizard wanabe muggle*

*"Choo-Choo Chwain"*

Emma Noel Winegar

*Our Little Princess*

*Grammy Winegar*

*Papa Winegar*

*Grandma Mora*

*First Family Picture*

*Wow, baby Sister brought Presents*

*We are happy you are here too!*

Words cannot express the new found love we have in our hearts right now. On Tuesday, December 16, we welcomed Emma Noel at 6:01 p.m. She was 6lbs 6oz and 19 1/2 inches long. She is the sweetest, absolute sweetest thing in the world. She has the softest skin and mildest manner ever. I guess its a blessing since Joey is full of energy. But we love them both so very much and feel so blessed to parent them.

Many will notice that yes we do now have a Joseph and an Emma- though Joey is Kevin Joseph. Joey was named after Joseph of Egypt because he was Rachel's second son that she was blessed with as Joey is our second son. Emma is named after Emma Smith. She is indeed an Elect Lady and we revere her for her support to the prophet and hope that our Emma will likewise be a great support in the Lord's work.

I went in on Tuesday for a check-up since I was dialetd 5 cent. I was still dialeted to 5 at the dr's office but my blood pressure was elevated so after some discussion, she agreed to just go ahead and break my water. Once I went to L&D I was 7 cent. so I don't know how accurate the first Dr was. I did have an infection that needed to be treated so after that was done, I got my epidural, water broken at 3:45 and had her at 6:01. The epidural was different since Joey was a natural labor. It was nice and calm, but it was hard not to be in control because I couldn't feel anything. But I am glad I got it because I was more relaxed. Recovery has been great and I have no complaints. Other than my anxiety to loose weight :(

My mother joined us from NY that evening and she was quite sad to have missed my labor but she has been a great help and loves how little Emma is.

My in-laws joined us on Wednesday from Arizona and that has been so nice. Its been raining a lot so we have just been hanging out at home but hopefully we can take them sight-seeing soon.

Joey is doing much better today with Emma's arrival. It was difficult because he has been

extremely whinny and emotional. But we powered through his anxiety and now he tells me when Emma is crying and pats her head and kisses her. Maybe its because she bought him a light saber to butter him up.

We want to thank each and everyone of you who supported us, prayed, and showed compassionate service during our pregnancy. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful support group. We are indebted to you for your service and love you all so much for it.

What can I say. Life is great and we feel so blessed that Heavenly Father has entrusted us with one of His precious children.

Still Pregnant

Thank you so much to all that have had us in your prayers and thoughts as we try to bring a healthy baby into this world.  I hope you understand me just putting this on our blog so that I am not retelling the same tale over and over.  I am a little drained.  But this is what happened.  I had a cerclage that is normally scheduled to be removed at 36 weeks to prevent tearing the cervix.  I had it removed on Monday morning and immediately went from  1 centimeter dilated before the procedure to 4 cent.  An hour later I was 5 centimeters and 100 % effaced.  However, because I am 36 weeks and military doctors are very conservative, they felt that it was not a good idea to break my water as was done with Joey and check Emma's lungs before anything else was done to progress labor.  I had an amniocentesis done- amniotic fluid was taken from my uterus through my belly with a syringe- to test her lungs.  2 out of 3 tests resulted that Emma had a chance of needed respiratory assist after birth and her lungs were at 1.8 where they should be at 2.  The NICU at the National Naval Medical Center is a level 3 so the doctors were confident that she would do well long term but immediately she might need help.  So it was up to us to decide what we wanted to do.  We took it to prayer and decided that despite my state of discomfort, her health is most important and a priority so we have decided to let labor come naturally.  We feel good about the decision but its just different because its not what we expected.  So I am still dilated, contracting not as much, and pretty comfortable, actually.  Some good friends from the ward have stepped up immensely and helped with Joey and for that I am grateful.  My mother is still here but will go to NYC and return when my water breaks.  So thats it!  We will keep you posted but so far we are ok and still trying to cook a healthy baby.  Please keep her in your prayers.  We are extremely grateful for you all and feel so blessed to have you in our lives.  We are more grateful for the power of prayer that allows us to see the eternal perspective of things.  Thanks for listening!  We love you.

Thanksgiving with No Gravy

                                                                 

*At the base of the Washington Monument, these girls were just lounging and Joey decided to go and flirt.  He has no shame*

Let me just tell you that this is my Thanksgiving Post, yet I took no pictures on Thanksgiving day! Don't ask!  We had the absolute honor of having my childhood friend, Gwendolyn, drive all the way from Florida to spend the holidays with us.  I have known here since we were literally in diapers.  She is my longest friend and I love how strong our friendship still is.  I was able to meet her amazing husband, Robin.  He is from Belgium and cracks us up as he gets accustomed to American ways.  She has two little girls, Keylah and Mya, and they played well with Joey.  But Robin was Joey's favorite- even though he totally whacked him with his Wii control while playing tennis.  

So for dinner we had Gwendolyn and her family and one of Kevin's classmates over.  We had Turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, corn casserole, green bean casserole, rolls,  pumpkin cheesecake- yum-, and a pistachio cake.  Did you notice that I left out the gravy and mashed potatoes?  That's because I totally forgot!  We sat down at the table and I served myself turkey and looked at Kevin and asked for the gravy.  And than he looked at me like I had 3 heads, because I made no gravy or potatoes!  Jeez!  Needless to say, we still had plenty of food and the turkey and cranberry sauce were juicy enough!  Phew!  I blame it on the hormones.

On Saturday we took Gwen on a tour of the National Mall.  We feel like we live there but its awesome.  And guess what?  While we were walking towards the Washington Monument, we saw Marine 1 and its decoys land at the White House.  It was awesome.  We weren't close enough yet to see passengers or anything but it was cool just to see every one stop and stare and point and take pictures.  Once again, I have no pictures of that.  Anyhow, we had a good time for Thanksgiving.  Now we look forward to Christmas, celebrating Emma's birth, and celebrating the Savior's birth          

                                                                    .

*At the DC Temple*

 *Good Friends

*Gwen, Keylah, and Robin in front of the White House*

*Robin, Keylah, Gwen, and Mya*