Christmas 2009

So this passed month seems like it has just literally flown by.  I mean seriously... All the insanity, stress, planning, shopping, baking, cleaning, wrapping and it's the holiday's over in a blink of an eye!!!! I tried to enjoy every minute of it with our new little bundle of joy.  First we had Christmas Eve at my brother's house.  His wife, Pam, hosts her family every year then and graciously includes us in the festivities.  Christmas Day is always spent at my Mother's....each year gets more and more interesting with each child added.  My Mother has a tradition of 'forcing' us all to sing Christmas carols with instruments every year after dinner....it's down right comical.  But this year somehow it turned out to be the Luke and Max show (two of my nephews) singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer over and over and over again.  Hilarious. 

Every year Chuck and I host a double Christmas party at our house.  The first part is for his side of the family....and it's a large one folks.  Those of you unfamiliar with the Ordini/Knaub/Culley/Carey clan....with children we are now totalling around 28+ (depending if grandparents and aunt/uncles/cousins make it).  And there is three more babies on the way.  That's right, all three of Chuck's sisters are pregnant with three more boys.  My mother-in-law said to me one day "Poor Kelsey....she'll be clobbered by the boys"...and I said "Not if she's anything like her Mamma....she'll keep them in line." 

So after the Ordini family dinner we always have a white elephant gift exchange. I mean, really, with that many people do you want to do anything else??  It's always loads of fun.  Then around 7pm the second party which includes our friends starts.  And I must say, even with having a new born this year went very smoothly.  Since the party was on a Sunday most people didn't stay into the wee hours of the morning since they had to go to work the next day.  Suffice it say there was close to 60 people in and out of my house that night.  Sadly there are never any pictures to share either because I'm constantly in host mode. 

We were also blessed to have my sister, Kelly and her two boys stay with us this trip.(they live in Coral Galbes, FL)  They normally stay with my Mother, however, she has recently moved my Grandmother in with her since she has started showing signs of alzheimer.  It's truly a horrible disease....I hate it.  Hate seeing parts of my Gramma disappearing right before my eyes.  And it's quite an adjustment for both of them and difficult for my Mother not to have her daughter and grandkids there...but she was able to see them everyday at our house.  It's so much fun to see how the boys change since we don't see them every day.  Max, the older nephew, truly grasps the concept on Santa this year, so we put cookies and a glass of milk out for Santa before he went to bed.  Unfortunately my sister put them at the wrong fireplace, so when he woke up the next morning and found the empty glass and plate suddenly in the living room with the Christmas tree...Kelly had to come up with some quick thinking.  So cute to see his face though.

While Kelsey is obviuosly too young to grasp what Christmas is yet....we were certainly over the moon with happiness at having her with us this year.  The perfect gift.  We feel blessed beyond belief to have her and all our family and friends in our lives.  The bless us each and every day in some way.  Wishing you all much peace and happiness in 2010!!!  Have a safe and Happy New Year everyone!!!

First family outing to get our Christmas tree at Jug Hill.

Kelsey dressed up like the abominable snowman during her first snowfall

Christmas Eve at Dodd and Pam's

My nephews -Kyle, Max, Luke and Gavin in the Christmas PJs I buy them every year.

Kelsey's Santa hat shots

Oh yeah....I also took some shots of Kelsey in a Santa hat that I plan on using for our Christmas card this year.....seriously....couldn't you just bite her???

Kelsey's first professional portrait session

So this week Chuck and I took Kelsey for her first professional photo session at KiddieKandids to get her Christmas picture.  And I must say....simply adorable!!  I know every mother says that....it's just so overwhelming for it to finally be my child getting her portrait taken.  I loved every minute of it....even watching the poor photographer try to get her to smile by making the same sound over and over and over again with no results.....ins't that the truest definition of insantiy??  Anyway...she only actually smiled in one shot which we didn't order....because the other shots were just priceless. 

While that was the plus side of our week...the down side was we officially chose a day care to enroll her in starting in January when I have to go back to work full time.  I'm currently working from home for December and going in one day a week.  Fortunately Chuck's store is closed on Tuesday's in the winter so he can watch her that day.  While we feel good about the day care we chose for her, it was a painstaking choice to make just between the different locations but also dealing with the guilt you have as a mother deciding to put her in day care.  Unfortunately, right now it is an unavoidable fact that we have to....but I pray daily that God provide some sort of miracle so that maybe that could change. 

Listen....I know a large ratio of families have to have two incomes to make ends meet and it's hard for everyone and I'm trying not to beat myself up about it....I know it will get easier.  Just dreading the New Year knowing that heartbreaking day is coming.  But this too shall pass. 

Pics from Thanksgiving 2009

Chuck, Kelsey and me Thanksgiving at Kim and Brian's

Stretch Family - Dodd, Pam, Luke and Kyle waiting for Santa to arrive at Shady Brook Farm

Joe, Gianna and Kelsey Thanksgiving morning at our house

Kelsey and me.....love that double chin of hers

Kelsey looking like she isn't interested in taking anymore pics Daddy

Chuck's sisters - Kim, Jen and Kate - all pregnant

Thanksgiving 2009

Well it was Kelsey's 1st Thanksgiving and we have much to be thankful for.  Obviously Kelsey Grace's birth being first and foremost on our list.  She is truly the greatest blessing in our life and are most thankful for her.  She is healthy aside from the acid reflux which seems to be subsiding now that we have her on the new formula and Zantac.  She is growing like a weed....at her 10 week checkup she was just over 12 pounds and 24 inches long...in the 90th percentile for her age group.  But most importantly she is a happy content baby...which everyone likes to point out.  This brings great peace and happiness to us every day.  Her smile literally lights up a room....warms my heart everytime!!! 

We are also thankful for great friends.  We met with Donna and her family for lunch at Isaac Newton's on Wednesday which was fun. 

Finally we are thankful for our families.  Thanksgiving day we spent a little time with Gianna at our house before we drove up to Brian and Kim's to see Chuck's side of the family and had the most fabulous meal and fellowship with everyone.  Friday we met up with my brother Dodd and his family at Shady Brook Farm in Newtown to watch Santa Claus come in on his helicopter.  It was soooooo cold that afternoon.  But still fun to watch my nephews faces when they saw Santa.  Then on Sunday I had my side of the family over our house for a 2nd Thanksgiving dinner....can you really have too much of that?? 

It was a great weekend and end to my maternity leave.  Unfortunately I 'technically' go back to work tomorrow....UGH!!!  In the office on Tuesday's and then they're allowing me to work from home the rest of the week for the month of December and then back full time January 2nd.  I would give anything to be able to stay home with her full time right now....but unfortunately financially we can't make it work right now.  But this too shall pass.  I'm thankful for a job as well....that pays well.  I know many can't say the same this year...so I'll try not to complain. 

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Pics from Halloween 2009

Truly just the sweetest little smile....just love her!!!




Clearly doesn't quite appreciate the hype of dressing up in a costume yet....

That face is saying....'Mommy, please stop torturing me in this itchy butterfly get-up!!"

Strike a pose.....Vogue!!!!

She was just laughing away....for like 3.5 seconds and then it all went down hill quickly.

Halloween 2009

Well this was Kelsey's first Halloween....although let's be honest...not much for a 7 week old besides the torture her parents put her through to get her into her butterfly costume. Normally we're at my brother Dodd's house for his birthday, but this year both his boys were sick so we stayed home and G.C. (Grandma Carol) came over to our house for the trick-or-treaters. Sadly...because of the rain and the fear of swine flu....there weren't many of them at all.


Regardless we had fun dressing up Kelsey and baking chocolate chip cookies. I was at the grocery store that afternoon to get stuff to make said chocolate chip cookies and the cashier looked and Kelsey and said "Aww...she's adorable...how old?" "7 1/2 weeks" I said. She responds with "Gonna take her out trick-or-treating?".......I kid you not!!! I resisted my normal sarcastic urge to respond and just said "No not this year". Those who know me well know how much restraint was used with that response.


Hope all had a spooooooctacular Happy Halloween!!!!

Pics of our 21 years together-part 3

Waiting the arrival of our new bundle of joy

Pics of our 21 years together-part 2

When we moved back to PA we bought a Harley...first Chuck's dream...but quickly became mine. as well.

Chuck and I when we first moved back to PA.

Chuck and I visiting Kelly in Florida last year.

Christmas 2008

Pics of our 21 years together

Chuck and I our junior year....my word we really look young here.

Our wedding day at Lambertville Station

This was at my sisters 30th birthday party 5 years ago on one of our many trips home to PA.

Chuck and I at my sisters wedding to Chris in Miami, FL....such a beautiful day.

October 1st – 15 years of marriage

Chuck and I recently celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. After dating a little over 6 years we were married on October 1, 1994 at Yardley United Methodist Church and celebrated with our family and friends at Lambertville Station. That day, until the birth of our daughter, stood as the best day of my life....hands down. The joy I felt that day knowing we were going to become husband and wife was truly overwhelming by the happiness of having all of our family and friends there to celebrate in our joy was the icing on the cake. I will never forget the fun we had that day and evening...into the wee hours.



We met in high school at Plumstead Christian School in the 11th grade and I remember falling for him the moment I laid eyes on him. He was the most handsome guy in our class. We didn't start dating until April of our junior year, but once we were together...we never parted. We certainly had our rough patches there in the beginning...and when he showed up at my house in ripped jeans and a Metallica t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off my Mother thought I had truly lost my mind. He was rough around the edges back then...but I knew he was worth looking passed that. I remember thinking very early on in our relationship that I was going to marry him. Thankfully God had that in his plan as well...otherwise it would have been impossible. We were both raised in Christian households, and I firmly believe that it's that faith based belief system that kept us together even when we didn't acknowledge it.



Soon after getting married we moved to Florida for Chuck to pursue a professional golf career. The professional league proved much more difficult than we had anticipated and he decided to go after a career as a golf professional at a country club. The move was a difficult decision for us and lasted much longer than the 1 to 3 years I had originally agreed to (we were there for 10 years) but I truly believe that it saved our marriage because it forced us to work on us and our marriage.



We have been through a tremendous amount of heartache - loss of jobs, loss of friends and pets, the death of my father and most recently a miscarriage and still birth.....but we have celebrated in some of the greatest joys as well - new additions to our extended families with 16 nieces and nephews (with three more on the way), career accomplishments and of course the birth of of our first daughter, Kelsey Grace. But the greatest joy has been our renewed faith in God that has developed in the midst of it all and had we not gone through some of those heartaches I don't believe we would have found that faith again.



I thank God every day for bringing Chuck into my life and for giving me a husband who is my best friend who loves me and accepts my faults and all. And shows that love to me daily in many different ways....the greatest of which is in making me laugh EVERY single day of my life. Oh, we may argue some days, but at some point in the day I know a laugh will be provided by him. The joy and laughter he has given me in these 15 years of marriage (21 years together total) is what I am most thankful for and wish for everyone.

Pics of Kelsey's dedication day

Mommy and Kelsey Grace at the end of the day....exhausted but filled with joy.

Friends Kathy and Donna Bretzel and Kathy Roskein with her little Ella.

Our little family....the first family picture actually.

Mommy and Baby Kelsey just home from the dedication still in her formal gown...she looked so beautiful.

Kelsey's Baby dedication and one month check-up

Kelsey was dedicated at our church, Grace Point in Newtown, PA on Sunday, October 11, 2009 followed by a huge party with our family and friends. It was an absolutely beautiful day which was great so all the kids could play outside and we could utilize the deck. Chuck and I felt very blessed to have so many people there to celebrate Kelsey's life.

Kelsey also had her first month check up which went well. She's weighing in at 11 lbs now and is 22 1/2 inches long. She's in the 90th percentile with everything which is great. We also just started adding rice cereal to her formula which we hope cuts down on the constant spit up. Even having 16 nieces and nephews, I never knew how much laundry one infant can produce from so much spit up!!!

Kelsey is still on an every 3 hour feeding schedule except at night. And there is no real sleeping schedule...some days she sleeps it seems, for hours and hours. And other days she is awake fairly constantly. She is just starting to give me a 'sort of smile'....it's definitely more than gas...but not quite a full smile. I am just so jonesin' for that first real smile at Mommy!!!!

Pics of Kelsey Grace

Kelsey Grace in a Bognar Piccolini outfit given to her for her dedication.

Ahhhh.....couldn't you just melt in those eyes????

Chuck gave me for Mother's Day this year the engraved onesie and blanket as well as a tank top for me to wear that read 'Kelsey's Mommy'.

Does it get better than this??

Chuck staring into Kelsey's eyes at the hospital.

Kelsey Grace Ordini

We were blessed with our gift from God- Kelsey Grace- on 09-09-09 at 9:33pm via c-section. She was 8 lbs 5 oz and 20 3/4 inches long. She was born on her actual due date.

My doctor agreed to induce me due to the extreme discomfort I was feeling that last week. So on Tuesday night I went in to the hospital to have cervidal administered to try to thin out my cervix. When I went in I was at 60% effacement and dilated 2 cm. After the 12 hours of cervidal they started the pitocin at 7:00am on the 9th. The doctor checked my progress at 10am and I was only at 70% effacement and dilated to 3cm. He decided at this point to break my water....not what I'd call one of the most enjoyable experiences without an epidural.

Now I had had an epidural once before and it was a breeze so I wasn't nervous at all for this one. That is until the anesthesiologist couldn't administer the first epidrual.....or the second....and the third was taking longer than I'd like. It's at this point that Chuck left the room....I swear I thought he was gonna sock the doctor in the face if he didn't get it in soon. After that the contractions kicked into high gear. I dealt with it for 3 1/2 hours before I asked for the epidural and then I felt virtually nothing. The monitor reflected major contractions and at a high frequency...but I felt nothing.....i LOVE epidurals. After all that I would have thought when the doctor came back to check me at 6pm I would have dilated to at least 6 or 7cm....but alas...NOT!!!! Only 3 1/2 cm and no change in dilation!!! WHAT?!??! How could this be????

The doctor said he would wait 2 more hours before checking me again and then depending on what progress I had made at that point we would discuss my options. However, he did mention that he was worried either my pelvis was too narrow or the babies head was too big and it wasn't descending. He mentioned the posibility of a c-section at that point. I was so upset, because I didn't want to deliver by c-section simply due to the recovery period from one. But I also knew I wanted to have a healthy baby...so however that had to happen I was willing.

At 8pm he checked again and NO CHANGE!!! I was exhausted at this point and said to schedule the c-section. That next half hour was a blur. The epidural I had at the time was wearing off....little scary when going into surgery. So we decided to have a spinal...thankfully this anesthesiologist didn't have any problems administering the spinal. However....since I already had the epidural you run a risk of having more numbness with the spinal higher up on your body. That was the scariest part of the entire experience for me....after a few minutes I literally couldn't feel my chest cavity move when I thought I was trying to breath. Then my hands and arms went numb and I could feel my heartbeat in my ears. At this point I just shut my eyes and prayed the Lord give me a sense of calmness and not allow me to go crazy at that point. I couldn't even feel the tugging or pressure you hear about during c-sections...which I guess is a good thing. But giving the tremendous meditation I was doing I really couldn't enjoy the experience of seeing my daughter when she was born. But the look on my husband's face of sheer joy and the sound of his voice talking to her of pure love was all I needed to experience.

When I finally got to hold her in the recovery room...it was like nothing I can put into words. Those Mom's out there reading this know what I mean and no words are needed. The love is just overwhelming....I have 16 nieces and nephews all of whom I love dearly...but it doesn't even hold a candle to the feelings when you have your own.

Everything we went through up until this point....the miscarriage, the still birth....it was all worth it just to get to this point. We are so thankful that God gave this gift to us and entrusted this life in our hands. May we be the best parents we can be to her.