Thread: ~*~MaxiMamma's (Karina) Lodge!~*~

OK, a bit about me:

My name is Karina and I'm 40 years old. I've been married to Doug (also 40) for nearly five years, although we started dating 11 years ago this Easter. (It took a while to drag him to the altar!) Anyway, by the time we got our act together, we decided to get busy with babies so that we wouldn't be feeling too old and creaky with newborns in the house. Max was born in 2004, Theo in 2006, and Anna is expected in about 3 weeks (April 14). Then we are done with having babies!

I have been very fortunate to conceive quickly with each baby and have healthy, uneventful pregnancies. Max was born in a hospital with an OB, and had a few problems initially which I can in hindsight blame on my epidural. I was determined to avoid this after that experience and subsequently had Theo at home with a midwife, which was WONDERFUL! I am planning a home birth for Anna as well, which I can only hope goes as smoothly as Theo's birth, which was pretty ideal (3 hours total, zero complications).

Having three kids in diapers is exhausting (I had hoped to have Max trained, but it isn't going as planned...), and I am feeling every bit my age these days (perhaps this will get better as we move out of the infant stage for this last one...? wishful thinking?). To give you some idea, here are some photos of DH and I just under five short years ago, still fairly bright eyed and skinny at 35 years of age:



And here we are now, in our most recent Xmas portrait (OK, DH looks pretty much the same, but HE'S not the one who had the babies!!!):


This is me at 36 weeks and 5 days:


BUT, of course, it has all been worth it. These are our boys, and we couldn't be happier with them:


MAX: THEO:

And here is Anna, so far:


Thanks for looking, and I look forward to seeing all your lodges and meeting your babies on line - this site has been a sanity saver for this SAHM, and so full of wonderful people that I feel like I know already...I can't go a day without checking in!!!

Hey Karina, I found your lodge. What a beautiful story about you and your family. I've so enjoyed getting to know you on the April 08 board. Here's to another easy homebirth!! Congratulations on your lodge.

Karina, you look 22 in your wedding photos!! I LOVE your gown. And your boys are just too cute. I can't wait to hear how your next homebirth goes.

Welcome to your lodge!! It's great to hear a little more about you. Your family is beautiful!!! I can't wait to hear how your second homebirth goes. How exciting!

Welcome!!

Those are beautiful pictures, what a great family you have and you look wonderful!

Cindy

welcome! love the pictures, too! can't wait to hear about this birth!

Welcome to your lodge, you are beautiful!!! I love the wedding pics. I am in my thirties but can definetly tell. Pregnancy was so much easier in my twenties Or maybe I just remember it that way, or possibly it's the addition of the four kids running around?

Loved reading more about you Karina! Wonderful story. Hope this second home birth is as wonderful as the first.

Welcome to your lodge!! I don't think you look haggard at all!! You look gorgeous, and much younger than you are!!
I'm looking forward to following your story.