Awwww, my sweet girls!

Baby Shiloh resting and smiling in her sleep...

My two girls, first night home, fell asleep in my arms...

Alexys has started getting brave on her bouncing zebra. Alexys says "Look at me no hands!", she laughs so hard while doing this and really can balance, of course I'm waitin gfor the day she falls off.

Alexys received her own newborn baby to take care of like mommy is taking care of her new baby sister Shiloh. This was one of her gifts coming home. Thanks to everyone also for the gifts they have brought to Alexys, she is loving them all.

Grandma Connie helped mommy attend a friends baby shower the afternoon we returned home and hung out with us for dinner that the DeGrande's brought over for our first meal home. THanks Samantha, it was great! Grandma Connie is such a big help and we love having her over. Alexys was ready to sleep in her own bed again and Shiloh did a great job the first night home as well. Cody was with my parents still and we were ready to get him home and have our whole family here. :-)

Alexys wouldn't hold still for a picture with anyone really, she is a little too busy these days for pictures I suppose but Shiloh does a great job. My parents returned Cody on Sunday around lunch and bought us lunch. Thanks for the time spent with us, it means the world to have our family close. That evening Uncle Bryan and Aunt Peggy brought over dinner and mojito's. They were awesome, I had been wanting a mojito for some time along with the dinner they prepared.

Last night the girls didn't sleep so well. I think Shiloh is having problems with her tummy and air bubbles in the belly, she was up for almost three hours crying in pain, Alexys then couldn't sleep so we had a late night. Pray tonight is better.

Finally a cute picture of Alexys, Grandpa Bob and Nana bought her to give at the hospital. It is a Mellisa & Doug wooden puzzle that makes the animal sounds. She loves it! I think this pictures says it all...

Homecoming!!!

Mommy & Shiloh getting ready to leave the hospital!

We were not thrilled about being unbundled for the car seat!! Ahhh, all better now we can go.

A picture with Mommy & Daddy at 24 hours old

We had a great visit in the hospital but it was time to get Daddy home and back to Big Sister Alexys. Shiloh checked out with flying colors as well as mommy. We packed up the car and arrived home with the girls and Grandma Connie to get settled in.

Shiloh arriving home and Big Sister Alexys greeting her!

Sisters Forever

Alexys and Shiloh met the first day at the hospital but Alexys was so excited to see all of her grandparents and Uncle Bryan she was too busy showing off for them and playing. At the end of her first visit Shiloh started to cry and Alexys perked up to baby, smiled, and gave Shiloh a kiss. The second day, Grandma Connie brought Alexys back to the hospital where she was the only visitor and they had some special time together with no distractions. However you'll notice in the pictures Alexys had an accident in the room from the beginning. Alexys climbed on the bed and when she went to nose dive on the boppy pillow, she hit the tray and received a bloody nose. Well as you can see she wouldn't let anyone clean her face and quickly was ready to check out her new sister with kisses and hugs. The three pictures above are from their second visit with each other.

It's a Girl!

Wednesday, June 22, 2009 we took Alexys to the Miami County Fair Parade and then to the fair to see the animals. My parents picked her back up at 10pm to stay one last night. About midnight I woke up to some contractions and my hips really bothering me. I was able to sleep between contractions until 5am. Around 5:30am I jumped in the tub, then out to the shower thinking we would try work and they would go away. At 6:30 as Duane was getting ready to head out for work I told him it was time to go to the hospital. We arrived to the hospital, checked in, and I was dilated to a 4 and contractions were 2-5 minutes a part. They broke my water at 9:30, around noon I was questioning my choice of no drugs but with the wonderful support of Duane, Juley Isenhower, Lisa Elmore, and the labor nurse Gloria, we made it to a beautiful delivery at 1:20. A beautifuol girl:

Shiloh Juleyann Epp

(Shiloh-city in the bible/Juleyann after my friend Juley and Ann after Aunt Peggy's middle name and Duane's Grandma Scherling)

Born: July 23, 2009

Time: 1:20pm

Weight: 7 lb 1.2 oz

Length: 19.75 inches

39-Week Checkup

SOooo....we are still going strong and not at the hospital. We had a couple of rough days after the last appointment then over the weekend each day I feel better. I don't know if that is good or bad, however we had our 39 week checkup yesterday at 4:10pm. Here are the stats:

• Baby-148 heart beats per minute
• I have remained dilated at a good 3
• 70% e-faced
• Baby Position -1

Dr Peck says anytime and we'll see you later! Duane, myself, parents, everyone is getting anxious to learn the sex and meet our newest member. We will just have to be patient a little bit longer.

Daycare is on vacation this week so my parents are filling in as babysitter's this week and due to being so close to having this baby Alexys has been staying the last two nights with them. Yesterday they went shopping and visiting with family all day and night. Tonight they will bring her home for us to take her to the Miami County Fair parade and have dinner with her. I think they are going to have a date night to the movies. Friday, Alexys Grandma Connie will stay with her during the day. That is about it for us, just trying to keep me moving and get closer to the big day.

Still hanging in there

Since my last post I have been able to get some sleep at night and that has made a difference in our days. Thursday I had the final sign that the baby is certainly working its way out. So, Friday night we hung out around the house. Saturday Alexys and I went and picked up some fresh produce from a local farmer, then back to the house for lunch and wait on Duane's father and step-mom to arrive for the evening. Paola had their annual car show, so we went up there and walked around, then to Beethoven's (a german resteraunt) for dinner. After that Alexys went for an overnight at Grandpa Bob & Nana Kim's. Today, Duane took me to Wal-Mart for some more walking and we'll go pick up Alexys here shortly. Right now, I'm just sore but overall feeling good.

Contractions thru the night

Well, last night was very little rest for myself. I was unable to fall asleep and had very mild contractions once or twice an hour thru the night. I will go to work today and once again, we'll keep you posted.

38 Week Update

38 Weeks, can't believe we are so close! SOOOO, here are the stats

• Baby-147 heart beats per minute (this was way up)
• I am dialated easily to a 3 he said
• 60% E-faced
• Baby Position -2 (it is in position and dropped as low as it can go)

We'll see what happens but for now the plans are to take it easy. I'm not ready yet ;-) I would enjoy another week but I maybe lucky for one more night. I can feel it getting close. Keep checking in!

Weekend Update

The Epp Family had a good weekend. Friday night we hung out around the housing grilling out steak and bake potatoes. Saturday Alexys and mommy hung out around the house till afternoon when Alexys went to Gardner to stay the night at Grandma Connie's house. It had been a while since she had an overnight and I think they had an awesome time together. Duane and I attended a wedding reception for our friends Russ & Katie Hermreck. They had a great reception and it was great seeing some friends. Sunday morning we made it to church then came home to prepare lunch. Grandma Connie brought Alexys home, then Uncle Bryan and Aunt Peggy joined us for lunch and a nice visit in the afternoon. Later that day we were going to attend the church picnic and swim party but Alexys took a late nap so we missed the start of the picnic. Then my parents surprised us and made it in time to go pick up some dinner for all of us. Alexys was so excited to wake up and find them here to play for the rest of the evening.
Monday we returned to work and I could really feel the baby drop over the weekend.

37 Week Check-Up

37 Weeks in and only 3 more to go! The heartbeat was 134 at our check-up, head still down, and everything is a go still. My blood pressure was where they would like it to be and he'll check me next week to see what progress we've made and how much closer to delivery we are. Simple update today. :-)

Whooo....What a weekend!

Friday Duane and I both enjoyed a day off of work for the fourth of July holiday. Alexys and I went shopping for the day to help get ready for another stay in the hospital and her new baby brother/sister. Grandma Connie joined us for the day at Oak Park mall. We picked up a few new outfits from Nordstroms that Aunt Peggy helped us with, then off to pick up some pajamas for me at the hospital and home. We enjoyed lunch at the food court where Alexys enjoyed Rice, Bourbon Chicken and Crab Ragoon's. Duane spent his morning working a side job then off to ride for the afternoon. We met back at the house around 6pm to take off for a get together at my friend Chrisy Nickell's home in Parker. Chrisy was celebrating her father's recovery from lung cancer and having half of it removed this last year along with his birthday. They had a large crowd there to celebrate and a great dinner. After dark we headed back to Paola to try and enjoy their fireworks display from the Nutt house (my friend Kym's parents last name). They were hosting a few of the family and we stopped in kind of late to say hello.

Saturday was the fourth of July and what a better way to celebrate other than help family move. Not really, it was a sad day but one that had to be done. Duane's cousin Heidi and husband Josh hosted family and pack their POD or however you spell it. A picture of Duane, Cousin Joel, and Brother Bryan.

Alexys was a little show off that day, we skipped the packing of the POD but went over at lunch to enjoy some yummy grilled food. Then Alexys started entertaining everyone with some break dancing and playing to make us laugh at her. Duane's Aunt Janet took the attached picture of my prego self.

We made our goodbye's a few short hours later and headed home for a nap before the next party. The Epp family celebrated the fourth this year at the Isenhower home in LaCygne. We enjoyed great food and friends. Alexys was able to swim, swing, slide, play with friends her age and run around. They had a great firework display that evening but Alexys wasn't much into the fireworks. She was more interested in playing with the buckles of her stroller.

Yesterday Alexys and mommy stayed home to relax and get a few more things together for the new baby that will arrive soon. Along with clean out some drawers that I have a tendency to stuff with papers when expecting company and no time to go thru them. :-). Around 6pm we headed to Gardner for Duane's moms. There we celebrated Bryan and Peggy's 12th Anniversary with dinner on her new back deck. Alexys enjoyed her first corn on the cob and we'll post a picture of that when Aunt Peggy gets some time to send it to us.

We return to the doctor tomorrow for our 37 week check-up.