Can you tell?

which one is which? One of these pictures is Chelsea, the other is Brinly.
(answer at bottom)

A:


B:



We've been taking it easy these last two weeks, but here's what's been happening at the Perry's.

Grandma Perry came to help out with things last Wednesday. It was so great to have her here, and the kids loved all the attention Grandma gave them.


Once again, we stole her away on her birthday. Last year she was with us for Dan's graduation. Dan picked up an ice-cream cake on the way home from work, so at least she would have some candles to blow out! Thanks so much for your help, mom!

Summer has started...finally!

Chelsea's last day of school was Tuesday. She loved Kindergarten and is sad she doesn't get to go for awhile, but is excited to be able to go on trips to visit cousins and to go swimming! :)




michael has started a fitness routine...



and is taking his roll of Big Brother very seriously.



And just because she is so cute, here are more pictures of Brinly.








And for those of you who are curious about the Labor story, here it is:

So, Sunday night, right before I went to bed, I used the potty. :) After it felt like I was done, more fluid came out. I thought that was weird...and also noticed that the "fluid" was quite clear. This is very abnormal for me, since I have a hard time drinking enough water to have "sprite" pee. :) I wasn't having any contractions, so I went ahead and went to bed. At 1:30, I got up to use the bathroom again, and the same thing happened...but once again, without any contractions.

I went to the computer and googled "water breaking," then decided to call the hospital. They told me to go ahead and come in to do some tests, and they'd either keep me or send me home. Again, I was feeling completely normal, so I packed my suitcase just in case then told Dan I was going to the hospital. Dan wanted to drive me , but I INSISTED he stayed home with the kids in case it was just a false alarm. otherwise, we would have had to call a family in our ward, in the middle of the night, wake them up and possibly their kids, and I didn't want to do that until I knew for sure. So, off I drove to the hospital. I repeat: DAN WAS NOT EXCITED ABOUT MY DECISION AND WANTED TO DRIVE ME. He didn't sleep a wink after I left.

Anyway, I get to the hospital, park, and walk to the "emergency entrance" to find that it was locked. A note read to go to the ER outpatient entrance...which I found was practically on the other side of the hospital. When I finally got there, I told the receptionist I was headed to labor and delivery to see if my water broke. Again, feeling fine, with not a single contraction since the day before. However, they insisted I be escorted by wheelchair up to labor and delivery. I felt stupid, but can understand fears of lawsuits...or whatever.

Once I arrived, they hooked me up to a monitor to hear baby's heartbeat, and checked me. I was dialated to a 4 and about 75% effaced. The nurse did a test for amniotic fluid, to see if the water had broken. When the results came back negative (implying my water did NOT break) she said she wasn't convinced and wanted to keep me for an hour to see if I progressed any. at 3:30 she came back and checked me. I was now a 5 and 80%. She told me I could go home or stay for another hour, but didn't think I'd be getting anywhere soon. I asked her if she thought I'd be back later that day and she said yes, so I stayed. Both Chelsea and Michael came quick, and I wasn't about to have a baby in the car or at home.

as soon as she left, the contractions started. they were all about 5 minutes apart, but kept getting stronger and more painful. Finally, at 4:15, I pushed the button to call her, and she checked me again. I was ready to go! :)

I called Dan and told him it was time. He got the kids up and took them to our friend's house and was at the hospital by 5:00 AM. I got my epidural, and did not scream once! :) (I was quite the screamer with Michael...and later felt very embarrased by being so weak.)

at about 8:00 it was time to push. It was the neatest experience. I must have been sitting up a lot more than with the other kids, because I watched her head come out...then her body, then the placenta...etc. It was all right there! It was so amazing and I couldn't hold back the tears. I didn't get emotional with the others because I felt like I didn't know what was going on, but to see the baby actually come out was...well, just amazing.

Oh, and it turns out, my water hadn't broke after all. This is gross, but after one of the pushes, we heard a "pop" and the nurse and Dan got splattered with water. EWWW. I know.

Brinly is such a good baby! She is a champion eater, and I'm really hoping she'll be my chunky baby. She latched on the FIRST try. She also had hardly a trace of jaundice, which was a huge relief. Both Chelsea and Michael had to have the bilirubin light, which was such a pain.

We are so glad she's here! I love looking at her and still wonder at the miracle of life.


Quiz Result:
B: is Brinly, and A: is Chelsea