And Then There Were 3

I am going to start this by going backwards to April 12th and LA's doctors appointment.  Just in case Baby 3 had not arrived, Dr. McCusker went ahead and scheduled the eviction day (thanks, Jenn Williams for calling your induction day eviction day - very funny coming from a  pastor) - April 24, 6am report to the ER to check-in.  There wasn't any reason to get to week 40, April 26th and then have to figure out what we were going to do and if we went to week 40, another ultrasound would have to be done (which was going to cost us more dollars and there wasn't any need for it).  The end was in site for LA.

LA made it to her 39 week appointment (April 19) and not much was happening (just 3cm).  Dr. McCusker who delivered Wyatt was on call all weekend and was back on call on Tuesday (our induction day).  She told us we would see her on Tuesday.  As we left the office, LA and I discussed what was going to happen.

• She had only one more day of work.  She was going into labor tonight
• She would go into labor during her last day of students, Friday (April 20th) so she couldn't complete all her work that needed to be done.  
• She was going to go into labor on Saturday while at a baby shower for her friend Krystal (in Charleston).
• She was going to go into labor on Monday (on Dr. McCusker's day off)
• She would make it to induction day.

I placed most of my money on making it to induction day.  Because I am a procrastinator and figured making it until Tuesday wasn't a big deal (it wasn't for me, seemed like a simple request to ask of LA).  I needed to work all day Monday and get everything I needed done because I hadn't finished on Friday.  I placed the remaining on her going into labor at the baby shower because I wouldn't be around and it would send the ladies at the shower into a panic.  LA placed all her money on Monday because we weren't thrilled with doctor options for Monday.    

LA made it through the entire weekend and I was prepared to get to work Monday (April 23rd) morning and get all my tasks done.  However, my 6:00am wake up call, was LA telling me that she was pretty sure we were going to be having a baby today.  Her contractions were about 5 minutes apart.  No need to rush, I've been to this rodeo before.  I got the kids ready for school, LA got a shower, I got a shower, I loaded up the car for our hospital stay and got the kids in the car.  It was now about 7:45am and we stopped off at the kids day care to drop them off.  Based on the first two deliveries, we had plenty of time.  LA's contractions were now about 3 minutes apart and I could tell they were pretty strong.  We had called the doctors office and they told us to go to the ER and they would be waiting on us.

We arrived at the hospital and went to the ER and they told us to go to day time admitting and "they were waiting on us".  It was during our  my walk, LA's ride from the ER to admitting that I realized what my job was.  It was to be LA's Sherpa.  I had all the bags and was pushing her around in the wheelchair.  When the ER didn't want anything to do with us I new we were in for an adventure.  Side Note - While at the hospital, we found out that the ER personal don't like two things - pregnant women and young children.  Which confirmed my earlier post when Wyatt was sick and we ended up in the ER at St. Francis.  We went to the daytime admitting and what a circus this turned out to be.  The ladies at the reception desk seem stressed and confused.  I patiently waited as LA is beginning to sit very quietly head in her hand and bouncing her leg.  An elderly female volunteer, walks up and attempts to help.  The fun begins when the receptionist finally asks if she can "help me".  It goes something like this:
R: Can I help you?
K: My wife is in labor and about to give birth in this wheelchair.
R:Have you registered?
K:I preregistered online, like I was told to do.
R:Looking at a sheet of scheduled procedures and not finding her name
Elderly Female Volunteer: Can I take her up to L&D?
R: She has to be registered.
K: She's not on any sheet for a scheduled appointment.  This wasn't scheduled.  I am supposed to be at work.  We are on your sheet for tomorrow.
R: One minute...more shifting of papers and looking for her name
K: She's not on any of your paperwork.  I promise.  We weren't planning on coming her today.
V: This lady is in labor.  It's going to be ok, honey.
K: I don't know how else to help understand that my wife is having a baby and she isn't on your paperwork.
Admitting Person Window 4: who has been observing what is happening - I can take her.  Finally, someone who can see the urgency of what is going on.

My recommendation to avoid that circus is to arrive before the daytime admitting is open and you can go through the ER.  They want you upstairs in L&D as soon as possible.  My second recommendation is for S'ville Med to get some portable computers and take the patient up to L&D immediately and register her in the L&D room.  It's not like portable computers and carts with computers weren't invented 15 years ago.  If it's about customer service then catch up with the technology.  

I am pretty sure the receptionist is still looking for her name on the schedule somewhere.    While we are at the admitting window as she scrolls through the preregistration form and I answer a few more questions and sign documents for on LA's behalf and Baby 3 who hasn't even been born yet's behalf.  The volunteer come back up and start rubbing LA's shoulders and talking to her.  I have been to this rodeo two times before and I know that the last thing LA is looking for is someone touching her and talking to her and especially someone she doesn't know.  The volunteer was trying to make a difficult situation better and we appreciated her efforts and had a few laughs as soon as we got up to the L&D room about the volunteer.

It is now about 8:20am and we are in the L&D room and we are greeted by the same nurse that help deliver Wyatt.  She remembers us which is not hard to believe since we were just there 25 months ago.  She checks LA out and says you're 8cm.  I wasn't sure I heard her correctly.  "Excuse me what did you say" - 8cm.  This party has started and is about to be over.  The short version of the next 1:08 is LA vagal downs while getting her IV (not fun for her or me holding the pan, or the student nurse who is taking everything in from a distance), she has to go all natural because it's too late for a epidural, the doctor is trying to prolong the process so LA can get some antibiotics for Group B Strep but she realizes it isn't going to work, she breaks LA's water and let's LA start pushing.  About about 12 pushes through about 6 contractions, we have a beautiful daughter.

Everyone of our child's birth have been different and exciting (as I am sure they all are) but when baby 3 came out she was purple like Clemson purple like purple you would think if someone wasn't breathing.  The doctor and nurse seem to think everything is good and purple is normal and put the baby on LA's chest as we look at each other and question out loud "Is she ok?", "Is she breathing?".  Everything was fine but it just was scaring the poop out of mom and dad.

Here's some of the interesting numbers about this delivery:

• 5:45 she started timing contractions
• 6:00 she work me up
• 7:55 arrive at hospital
• 8:20 arrive in L&D and are examined
• 9:28 Baby 3 entered this world
• The student nurse assisting(watching from the distance) the L&D nurse learned more in 1:08 than she had learned in class all year.  She was shell shocked.  

They have yet to get enough help on the L & D floor.  I wasn't even asked this time to help.  It was assumed that I was going to pick up one of her legs and assist.

We have set a new Providence Class Record For Quickest To 3 Kids:
3 Years, 7 Months, 10 Days (I am pretty sure AW and MW are interested in giving a run at the title.  It should be a piece of cake since they are having a double shot in a couple of months.) and set a Providence Class Record For Closest To Delivery Somewhere Other Than The Hospital: 1:28:00

We were all worried about the doctor and it worked out great.  She was very good and did a great job and to be honest at this point I am pretty sure I could deliver a baby if I knew there wasn't going to be any complications.

LA is the rockstar of the show.  She was the 3 Star Player of the Game.  I was impressed that she only once said "I don't think I can do it".  She never screamed.  She never called me, the doctor, or the nurse names.  She never dropped the F bomb and she never said any other 4 letter word.  She never screamed "Get This Baby Out Of Me....NOW!!!.  She powered through it like an expert.  She has been such a rockstar that she got a "push" present.  Actually, it's because she is awesome and I love her and deserved it for putting up with me.

So most of  you know Baby 3 had some issues with her white blood cell count being elevated.  The night nurse on Monday came to us at about 11pm and told us that Baby 3's white blood count was elevated. So we inquired - How high and what's normal?  Normal 18 and her's 38.  The funny part was the doctor visiting us the next morning and telling us her wbc is "slightly" elevated.  I am not sure if she knew that we were aware it was 38 because double in my book is not "slightly" anything - 22 is slightly elevated.  It turned out to be nothing but her body probably reacting to how quick she was born or something she  might have swallowed on the way out (you can ask me if you really want to know...I had never heard of it with the other two kids).

So my other job is to the call the sex of the baby when they pop out.  I was so convinced that we were having another boy that Baby 3 popped out and I told Leigh-Ann "it's a boy" and was quickly corrected by the doctor "its a girl".  My chance to shine in glory and I called it wrong.  How could you screw this up?  The light got in my eyes and I am pretty sure I confused the umbilical cord with the male plumbing (wishful thinking).  I am glad I didn't bet anything on boy or girl because I would have lost - the Chinese calendar was wrong and the heart rate was wrong.  Baby 3 never had a heart rate above the low 140s and the majority of the time it was in the upper 120s.  You know who I should have trusted?  Adrian, she was right telling us we would have a girl, boy, girl.  I am glad we got to her before she retired.

The sleeping accommodations still haven't improved and generally suck for the male.  I skipped even trying the chair/bed and tried two chair close together but finally figured out the best place.  In the hospital bed with LA...scoot over Daddy's getting comfortable.

We had a girls name picked out for months but even during the brief delivery we were discussing boy names and I am not sure either of us would have known what to say if we would have had a boy.

Just like when your dating someone for awhile everyone ask "When are you getting married" and after your married everyone asks "When are you having kids".  LA barely got baby 3 out and everyone was asking about Baby 4.  I have even heard of a friend taking bets on when Baby 4 will arrive.  They are thinking next June because of the Hootie concert in August.  I put $100 on no baby 4 and hedged my bet with $50 on October 2013.   

More coming on Baby 3...Exclusive pictures of Baby 3 can be found on our partner website I'm Just Sayin'.

Editors Note:
If you're a movie buff head over to I'm Just Sayin' and check out his Movie May countdown of the greatest 2,613 movies.  It started May 1.  I am in awe that he put something like this together but I am really wondering what he could have done with the $15k  50K, he spent on tickets, drinks, popcorn and candy (you know he didn't go alone to all these movies because we all know before Jenn landed the best thing to ever happen to her - he was a lady killer).  Check it out...

Ansleigh Grace

On Monday, April 23, 2012 God blessed LA and I with a beautiful baby girl and we named her  - Ansleigh Grace (after Leigh-Ann and Jenn and Greg's Suzie Grace or just because we liked it with Ansleigh.  We did find out later that her grandfather had a Grace in his family)

She was 8lb 4oz / 20" long.

She is the smallest of our three kids by weight and in the middle by length.

There is no way you can witness the birth of a child and not be humble.  It is an experience that was different for each child but causes you to pause and give thanks to God.

Ansleigh Grace we love you with all our heart and look forward to helping you have an abundant life that God has planned for you (John 10:10).

One of my favorite Psalms is fitting for this day.

Psalm 139

1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.

5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts,t God!
How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!

20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?

22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Be Patient...It's coming

I am working on the much anticipated recap of the last week's events.  It will be epic.

45

I am not sure what is going on with blogger but I hope I am not getting ready to waste my time typing this post and it not work.  The format seems to have changed and at my age I am pretty resistant to change.

Before I get started:

LA Update
She is still pregnant as this is being typed (Friday, April 20 11:00pm). 
**Correction - Highlights From Jan - March 2012**
We will have 3 kids within 3 Years, 7 months and 11 days (Providence Record)

45
I turned 45 today.  Nothing real pretty about those numbers except that I have lived long enough to see them.  I posted here about turning 43 (which I think is one of my finer posts and you can get your history lesson from 1967) and told you that there wasn't much to get excited about after 43 and still hold that belief.  I am officially stuck in the middle for the next year - equidistant between 40 and 50 which isn't a bad thing because next year 50 is officially right around the corner.  You can't even flip them and feel better about how old you are - 54.  However, I am grateful for everyday that I have been blessed with thus far and each day going forward.

I want to give a shout out to my friend Jeremy who I share my birthday with.  I thought that I was the only one born on the April 21 until I meet Jeremy.  If I have to share my birthday, Jeremy is a good choice.  I hope you have a great day...You want to change birth years?

Before I get to far along, I wanted to give a big Thank You to my good friend over at I'm Just Sayin' for his shout-out.  As he mentioned, we haven't known each other very long but I have laughed with him more that most of my friends and I think enough of him and his wife to that I convinced LA to have another baby (the one that is just minutes/hours/days away) so we both would have 3.

There are two things I think about when I here the number 45:

1. Colt 45 Malt Liquor 
2. Colt 45 Handgun

Colt 45 Malt Liquor
I can testify today that in my 24 years of being of legal drinking age that I have NEVER tasted a Colt 45.  The reasoning is simple it's malt liquor and comes in a 40oz bottle.  Let's be honest, if you have to drink it out of a brown paper bag it can't be that good. It's 3.33 normal beers in one bottle and as my mom would say is nothing but "horse pee" (she says that about all beer and how do I know? I have had friends drink it and have smelled it).  It is currently owned by the Pabst Brewing Company (a beer that I have tasted and agreed with my mother that it was "horse pee"...sorry Greg.  Greg is right when he brings Pabst to a party, he doesn't have to worry about anyone stealing his beers).

Colt 45 Handgun
I can testify today that never in my life have I held a Colt 45 handgun.  I am pretty sure I wouldn't know a Colt 45 from a Colt 44 or Colt 46 (I would be able to pick out a 357 Magnum because of Dirty Harry,  a Uzi thanks to Bruce Willis and a M16 thanks to Tony Montana).

A few facts about the number 45:

• The sum of all the digits of 4 and 5 is 9 and 0+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+9 = 45
• I grew up with 45rpm records (for most of my reading demographic, you have no clue what I am talking about...stop by the house one day and i will show you a few of them and the record player they played on)
• A soccer match is two 45 minute periods (much longer that I could last unless I played goalie)

Famous Athletes Wearing The Number 45

• Michael Jordan - after his return form retirement / his number 23 had been retired by the Bulls / He was near as magical in the 45 so he switched back 23 when they unretired his number 23
• Bob Gibson - Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher
• Pedro Martinez - Baseball
• Tug McGraw - Baseball
• Cecil Fielder - Baseball
• Jeff "The Judge" Davis - Clemson Football / Ring of Honor
• AC Green - NBA Basketball
• Chuck Pearson -NBA Basketball
• Rudy Tomjanovich - NBA Basketball

Not So Famous But In Honor Of His Death

• Adam Petty - died in accident at New Hampshire Speedway in a practice session.  After his sons death, Kyle Petty took over driving the number 45 until he retired.

Highlights from Jan - March 2012

If there is anyone still checking for updates today is your lucky day.

• My first shout-out is to my goddaughter/niece Meghan.  She turned 21 today.  She is awesome and Aubrey loves her very much, calling her "my Meghan".  I will add Aubrey and Wyatt's video message to her tonight.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  WE LOVE YOU!

• My second shout-out is to my niece Katie who is awesome.  She turned 15 on March 8th and got her restricted drivers license.  After looking through the GA drivers handbook, I realized I might not be able to pass the test, if I had to retake it.  Good job, Katie!!!  WE LOVE YOU!
• If your using the countdown clock - subtract 2 days (see below,  I am too lazy to change them...actually, I think I have forgot how.)

Highlights from Jan - March 2012

• LA is still pregnant 
• Since January 2008 (4 years, 3 months, 24 days) she has been pregnant for
• 30 out of 52 months
• 120 out of 225 weeks 
• 840 days out of 1575 days
• We will have 3 kids within 3 Years, 7 months and 11 days (Providence Record)
• The spread will be - Aubrey - 18 months - Wyatt - 25 months - Baby 3
• However, Baby 3 was served eviction papers last Thursday and has until April 24 at 6AM to exit LA's belly under their own power.  If still residing in LA's belly at 6:01AM on 4/24, all necessary steps will be taken to remove Baby 3   
• We still do not know if Baby 3 is a boy or a girl - (If there is any truth to the heartbeat theory, my guess is that it's a boy.)
• Names - We have the girl name selected and have for quite a long time but a boy name is still up in the air.  It is looking more and more like a game time decision, if we have a boy.  Can you leave the hospital without having an official name?  
• Why so difficult for a boy name?  LA has shot down most of my favorites:
• Cash (Cash Carter has a good ring to it)
• Boone (It's not just a dog's name (see below))
• Trae/Tray (for being number 3)
• Corey Wyatt Carter II (I like the name Wyatt.  Bet that has never been done before - call them Wyatt 1 and Wyatt 2...we might have to move to W Va for it to be legal)
• If you want breaking news on Baby 3, you should follow me on twitter (k_carter) or facebook or keep checking out the blog or if the final contract gets signed this week before Baby 3 arrives you will be able to get the details and first pictures here. 
• Aubrey and Wyatt are sharing a room now.  It went much better than expected.  We figured they would talk to each other all night.  Except for the occasional "Wyatt, Wyatt, Wyatt" in a very soft whisper from Aubrey, it has been very quite.
• Wyatt is in the process of potty training and is doing very well.  We couldn't have two in diapers full time so LA put him on potty boot camp during spring break.
• Wyatt had his 2nd Birthday which was supposed to be and outdoor sports theme party and due to the weather it turned into an indoor gathering.  We even had the pinata indoors which means someone is getting hit with the stick in the family jewels.  Uncle Waylon and I held the stick with the pinata and he took a shot to the ribs for the team.  Fortunately, we were on our knees or that hit would have been a crippler.    
• I am beginning to realize why everyone thought we were crazy for having number 3.  We could have been finished with diapers, bottles, bibs...etc.  but now it is getting ready to start all over again.  However, we are looking forward to it.  It will be interesting to see how Aubrey and Wyatt take another addition to the family.  My take today is that Aubrey will roll with it and Wyatt is going to struggle because he struggles at times with just Aubrey getting attention from us.
• Congrats to our friends at Courtyard (Jenn and Clark...I think Jenn and I are on a quest to see can blog the least in 2012 - Greg has run away with the title for most post for 2012) on their newest addition, Timothy Bryant.  I got to hold Bryant at the hospital before LA (that didn't go over real well BUT I actually was in the area at a lunch meeting with DCSO and decided to stop in to see Bryant and complete a covert operation to inspect the baby rooms at Summerville Medical Center and see if any changes had been made because I thought I had heard they remodeled but it's still all the same as when Wyatt was born...In 2 years, I was expecting 45" flat screens in the rooms and something better for me to sleep on - wishful thinking)  Seeing and holding Bryant was exciting to again hold something so small that is dependent on you for everything.  It was hard to remember in only 2 years what it was like to have a child so small again (with Aubrey around 40 pounds and Wyatt around 30 pounds, while holding a child 7lbs 7oz, you almost don't realize you holding them).
• We had a great Easter and got to spend some time with Meghan.  She came up on Saturday, endured a birthday party, filling Easter eggs, a couple of meals with the kids, and hiding Easter eggs.  We also exposed her to our favorite tv show - see below.  Not sure when she will be back but we  hope soon.  

• Duck Dynasty - This could be one of my top 10 shows after only 6 episodes.  Just the career day episode alone would have sealed a top ten ranking.  Phil is the founder of the family company (Duck Commander) and is as country as country gets BUT has some very good life lessons for his grandchildren and us.  Don't miss another episode - set your dvrs. You can thank me later.
• Speaking of country - Coon Hunting
• The Ulmer clan (minus Scott's brood) held their 1st annual Christmas/New Year camp-out on the 191 Acres.  I am working on a new name but that one will have to suffice for now.  LA and I have a tent and we have used it 3 more times than Tim has borrowed it (1) and one of those it was setup in the house.  Anyway, since LA was with child and to give her brothers something to give us city slickers a hard time about we brought our air mattress (a double that is double height). Our tent is large enough to sleep an Army division comfortably.  After LA got the tent set up...it was a pretty normal camping adventure - eating hot dogs cooked over the coals, stories, and laughing but the highlight of this camp out was the Coon Hunting trip led by Master Coon Hunters Mike and Hayes and their dog Boone (not sure if that's the dogs name but it sounds like a good coon dogs name).  Aubrey and I loaded up in Gator with Uncle Wesley and two or three kids in the back.  Our first treeing wasn't exactly what we were looking for.  The dog holed an armadillo (for the everyone reading this that doesn't know about coon hunting this is not good because it means your dog doesn't know the difference between an armadillo and a coon)  As Mike shot into the hole, I realized one thing I had not considered, Aubrey asking questions.  "Why is Uncle Mike shooting the armadillo?"  It was a bad armadillo "Why was it a bad armadillo? It was messing up the fields and the questions continued but not for long because they released the dog again and in no time Boone had something treed.  Upon arriving at the tree where Boone was barking up a storm, we began looking for the coon.  In the oak tree about 12 feet off the ground was a hollow and we believed it was a coon but do to its position in the hollow we were unsure.  Mike shot into the hollow and tried to poke it to get it to move but it wouldn't.  Still not sure it was a coon, Uncle Waylon took matters into his own hands and climbed up the small tree next to it that wasn't really big enough to hold Aubrey.  He inspected the animal in the hollow and confirmed to everyone watching on the ground that "we got us a coon".  At this point the only thing I can think of is Jerry Clower and his story about coon hunting (and if you don't know who Jerry Clower is shame on yourself - take sometime to listen to this southern gentleman)

Waylon grabbed hold of that "souped up wildcat" by the tail and began to pull the coon out and coon tried to climb down further into the hollow and after a brief struggle Waylon had the "souped up wildcat" out of the tree and threw him to the ground.  Where Boone was waiting to finish him off (We gave the coon a sporting chance).  Needless to say it was quite an adventure for Aubrey and she is still talking about Uncle Waylon grabbing that racoon by the tail and the dog biting the racoon and tearing it up.  I tried to video tape this adventure but it was too dark. I still find myself laughing about that evening and events took place.  As I try to retell the story in person or even put it in words here, it does not even come close to actually being there.  Unless you were a witness, you will never get the full effect of everything that happened.  I am not sure year 2 can top year 1 but I am looking forward to next year already.

• The last couple of months haven't been easy for our extended family.  The death of my sister's husband Chris has been difficult.  However because of our faith, our friends and family, it has been easier.  I would just ask to keep my sister and her children in your prayers.
• In the midst of difficult situations, there is sometimes humor and during the receiving of friends at the funeral home a couple of funny things happened.   
• Chris's employer had been closing down for the past year due to the lack of commercial construction projects and as the people introduced themselves to me and their connection to Chris a woman said she worked with Chris in the office and was one of the first to be let go when they start shutting down.  I wasn't exactly sure how to respond....so I just told her "Sorry, thank you for coming" and moved her down the line.  I am sure she didn't mean anything by her comment because it really is a difficult time and you never know what to say and sometimes you say the first thing that comes to your mind which is totally different than what you wanted to say.
• I am pretty sure I met every teacher in Chatham County.  My sister assures me that they were only from her school.  While greeting those friends and teachers , my sister helps with the introduction of a female that works in the office at her school - "this is my brother, Kevin from Summerville, when did you tell me you graduated from Summerville? She replies "85".  That's when Kevin graduated.  Do you know each other?" and my sister turns to greet more people.  I am thinking my sister and I should have had this conversation sometime prior to this moment and this is getting ready to be a horrific train wreck.  What was she thinking.  The woman tells me her maiden name and I stare back her as I run through a Rolodex of all the girls I knew in high school.  I am sure she is ready to unload a dump truck of her bad high school memories that were probably all my fault.  I decided to dive in head first and break the ice - "You look familiar but not with your clothes on?".  Actually, I still don't have a clue who she is and thankfully she didn't have a clue who I was.  We talked about who we knew and while knowing some of the same people we didn't know each other.  She had moved to Summerville in the 11th grade so we were only in school together for 2 years.  That was a close call.  We both agreed not to go back and look at old high school year books.
• As I remember more highlights from earlier in the year, I will share them.

Great Waterpark Adventure In January

For all those that are reading this "Welcome Back to the slowest growing blog in America with a confirmed readership of about 5."!  I took and extended vacation for Christmas and New Years from blogging.  I was out gathering material for 2012 and I think after this weekends adventure at least the first part of this post will be worth reading. Thanks for checking back and not giving up.  This post is for all my "Our Life" fans.  Let's get this party started:

January 14 - 15, 2012
Great Wolf Lodge
Water Park Adventure

I know the first thing you are thinking is "water park in January?" - which was accompanied by the facial expression of "are you nuts?" .  Which after the 100th time of telling someone about it, I finally just gave in and began telling them "yep, were taking the kids to the water park in January and freezing our butts off because we are cheap, it's a deal and the lines are shorter (have you been to a water park in the summer?)  Actually, we went to an indoor water park (whoever came up with this idea was a genius)  called Great Wolf Lodge (FYI, if you click the link and see the two girls in the pool, don't get to excited - you don't have the park to yourself...more on that later - 84 degrees and 80,000 sq feet) in Concord, NC (everyone calls it Charlotte but that's like saying Summerville is Charleston).  If you have ever been to the Concord Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord you were real close to the water park.  

Participating in this adventure (or sucked into this adventure) were the Our Life family and to protect their identity let's call them Tim, Arlette, Madison and Dylan.

Before I get too far into the is post, I want to give a shout out to LA for being a trooper and agreeing to go to a waterpark knowing she couldn't ride any of the fun stuff since she is with child.  She even let me go be a big kid for a couple of hours each day with Tim, Madison and Dylan.  

For the most part, the water park is only open to guests of the Great Wolf Lodge (GWL).  With your overnight stay, you can start using the water park at 1:00pm and can use the waterpark until 9:00pm on the night of you departure.  We walked through the doors into the water park around 3:00pm and were greeted by a warm rush of air and thought this is pretty warm (84 degrees) - more on this later.  Aubrey didn't make the cut by 3" for having free reign of the entire park and was limited to the kid area and the tree house with two slides and pools - she missed out on the four best slides.  This was disappointing (to me) but it didn't make any difference to her.  Tim's family went to the big kid slides and LA and I took Wyatt and Aubrey to the tree house so they could ride the slides.  The rule for who could ride the slides in the tree house was as follows:  under 42" permitted with "adult supervision".  Now I am not sure what GWL calls "adult supervision" but it doesn't equal LA's or my definition of "adult supervision" BECAUSE the slide is a lay on your back, no sitting in laps, one at a time.  Adult supervised to me means we can ride together and if something happens it's my fault.  So Wyatt could ride this slide "adult supervised" which evidently to GWL means you take responsibility for shoving your child under 42" down the slide.  We decided that Wyatt was a little to young for those slides but Aubrey could ride them.  I convinced pushed Aubrey down the slide and told her "see you at the bottom".  I wouldn't say she loved it the first time but she would ride them throughout our stay.  Almost forgot the water in the house and the 1,000 gallon bucket drop is not 84 degrees...much colder or like I thought before we went 84 degrees isn't warm enough for me.  You either need an extra 10 pounds of fat or them to turn up the thermostat.

One of the pools at the water park has 6 basketball goals (see web link but with more than two people) and two acorn "lily pads" for playing "King of the Acorn" and a snake (not a real one) but one about 15 kids could climb and play "King of the Snake".  The adult (older than me, at least looked older than me) playing basketball next to us just signed a contract with the National Pool Basketball League (NPBL).  Easy big guy we are all on vacation.  It was the warmest pool on the property in the late afternoon and evening - must have been 84 degrees the rest of the time.

The also have a wave pool.  When you see an perfectly good pool empty, what's your first thought?  Caddyshack...It's a Baby Ruth or is it? (pretty sure this is going to be pretty high on the upcoming movie ranking from "I'm Just Sayin") Tim and I were pretty close to being right - evidently somebody threw up in the pool.  They evidently have two wave settings - gentle and knock you arse on the ground and the settings must be random.  This pool was also chilly at times - 84 degrees.  My suggestion find a light and back up against it or find a water jet and feel the warm water coming out.

The kiddie area has four jet skis with water cannons to piss the adults off because the kids are spraying the adults (if an adult ever needed to learn restraint - take them to a water park and let kids they don't know shoot them with water...I give them about 2 minutes before they go bonkers on the kid), three slides (not near as good as Wanamaker or any other kiddie area at a water park that I have been to) - two of them are a stretch being called slides more like drag them down it.  Wyatt and Aubrey both liked this area.  We almost caused a situation in the kiddie area.  I was off being a big kid while LA and Arlette watched Aubrey and Wyatt.  Arlette asked LA what is your daughter doing?  LA looks up and Aubrey is bent over with her bathing suit pulled to the side going pee-pee.  She sometimes forgets she isn't at Pops pool where it is okay to pee-pee in the grass (so you don't flood the inside of the house with wet kids).  In her defense she wasn't directly in the water (on a platform above the water).  Trust me she wasn't the first or the last kid to pee in that pool.  Kids do the darnest things...opps.  At least our kids weren't responsible for the following situation:
So why is the kiddie area closed?  While watching Wyatt and Aubrey I noticed the lifeguard place her hand in the air and a supervisor and another lifeguard immediately show up.  The other life guard walks into the water and starts looking around.  She then goes and gets a glove and scoops up something off the bottom of the pool and inspects it with the supervisor. Is it baby baby ruth, a raisinet or pooh?  They determine it's pooh (come on people contain your kids poop...it's your responsibility)...RED  ALERT, RED ALERT, whistles blowing everyone out of the pool.  They shut the area down for further inspection.  I nominated the lifeguard with the glove for the employee of the month and a raise.

The whole lodge has a game called Magi Quest.  In a nut shell you purchase a wand (that's good at any other Magi Quest) and you buy time that's loaded on the wand and you go on adventures and quests using a map book, finding clues.  Here's Tim's review of Magi Quest - a mind numbing adventure with not much of a point (at least to an adult, because it seemed like his kids loved it...and LA and I asked them often about making sure they completed all the adventure and quests before we left and Tim made sure they shared every detail to LA and I).  I asked him if you killed or shot anything? Nope.  What's the point? Not real sure.  Do you win a prize when you complete an adventure or quest? Nope  What's up with the older kids (15 -19 year olds) playing?  They have not adjusted socially...their parents need to have a talk with them "you know this isn't real life...give me your wand...here's a ball go outside and play or in this case go ride the slides in the water park.  To prove his point while his kids were playing an older boy starts talking to his daughter - "I'm a 7th level Warlock...on a quest....blah, blah, blah"...the boy moves on but Tim was walking up to tell him "No actually you are on a quest to get your arse kicked".  The great part about this Magi Quest was that it was on four different floors and Tim and Arlette got to see the entire Lodge.              

So by walking into a water park, you assume you are going to get wet.  I like most people like to prepare myself to get wet especially when the water is 84 degrees.  If you go onto the tree house, you expect to get wet and kids are going to spray you as you navigate the stairs to the slides - it's the nature of the tree house and I accept it (might not like it too much...see above about unknown kids spraying you)  However, what I did not sign up for is while waiting in line for the slide is for Pugsley (who is standing right next to me, who I don't know) to start shooting water at me.  I looked at him and I quote said "really?!?! you are going to shoot me with water".  He stopped and 10 seconds later shoots me again which I replied and I quote "really?!?!you want to start this" and I then proceed to drench him with water that caused him to start crying and he went and got his mother who I proceeded to shoot with water which then lead me and Aubrey being escorted out of the park.  Not exactly what happened but only because he heeded my second warning or that is what would have happened.

84 degrees - That might be the indoor air temperature but not all the water in the park is 84 degrees.  It helps if you keep telling yourself that it's 84 degrees, it's 84 degrees.  Or tell yourself it's 34 outside, it's 34 outside.  They need to pump up the heat a few degrees for my liking - a tropical 88 would be nice.

Stairs - This applies to any waterpark.  Get rid of the stairs and install escalators or anything that keeps me from having to climb stairs.  It's the 21st century, we can invent something a better option.

Cabanas - We got one because that's how Tim and I role.  But actually after spending Sunday in the Cabana, even the ladies would highly recommend renting a Cabana (specifically Cabana #5) on your departure day, especially if you are doing the one night trip like we did or have multiple families or a larger group.  It gives you an area to hang out, eat lunch, don't have to fight for chairs or tables or stand in any lines for food or drinks, not be in the mass of other people and be a big deal for the day and have a butler take care of you (and you get up to 20 drinks free which is a $50 value which makes the cabana even cheaper and easier to justify).  

Howling Tornado - Is a clover leaf tube ride for 2 to 4 people (basically four tubes you sit in with a mat in the middle for your feet).  The entry into your tube is the tricky part for the adults.  Tim decided to try a new way to get in the tube by plopping down into the tube which promptly dumped him out in the pool of water in the loading area, almost sending him down the slide without the tube or us which would have been awesome but the worker grabbed his ankle as I was yelling "hey, lady there's a whale trying to go down the side...catch him".

Here's my review of most of the water park:
Fort Mackenzie - aka "Tree House" - plenty of places to get soaked and piss people off from the bucket drop and water hoses and water cannons everywhere.
Totem Towers - aka "slides in Fort Mackenzie" - no tubes here just your backside...good slide fast
Whooping Hollow - in Kiddie Park area - good for the younger set but pretty tame
Howling Tornado - two to four person tube slide - Awesome slide with a sixty foot drop into a larger tube area where you ride 30 feet up the walls.  Best ride in the park
River Canyon Run - two to four person tube slide - normal tube slide but bigger tube and with up to four people. Pretty tame (only rode this slide once...not worth the wait)
Alberta Falls - one or two person tube slide - Awesome single person tube slide, fast...pretty fun with two people also but without the ability to spin backwards like you can in a single tube.
Mountain Edge Raceway - single mat slide, up to four at a time - it is a speed race with you and your friends...fun, weight seems to play a factor since I was 1 -2 verse Tim.
Slap Tail Pond - aka wave pool - watch out for the wipeout level otherwise a good place to spend some time relaxing from climbing stairs
Chinook Activity Pool - aka basketball pool - watch out for the older kids and remember pool basketball is a contact sport...enough other area to be in the pool and out of danger.  Wyatt and Aubrey loved jumping off the side into the pool.
Cub Paw Pool - aka kiddie area - good for the kids but the slide needs to be kicked up a notch (like Wanamaker kiddies slide)

Improvements I Would Make

• Add additional slides - I think two more would make a hugh difference at this park reducing the lines (the lines were not terrible but any line is no fun because it is reducing your RPD (Rides Per Day))
• Option of riding Howlin Tornado without a tube
• Option of riding Howlin Tornado with multiple tubes - first tube out wins and you are penalized if anyone falls off your tube
• Waterpark stays open until 11pm

Don't Forget

• Your camera and video recorder (We forgot both at home and I was looking forward to taking some action videos with our waterproof video recorder).
• Flip Flops / Crocs  (How does the flip flop King forget his flip flops?)

Overall review of Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge gets the coveted  Our Life Highly Recommended rating.  The rooms were nice and there are plenty of activities for the kids - water park (9am to 9pm - closing time changes based on season), arcade, Magi Quest, story time, magic shows, dance party...etc.  The food at the hotel is okay.  The biggest advantage is that it is convenient and kids eat free (still cost two adults $50 for a buffet dinner with drinks and tip).  The water park is typical of any amusement park - arrive early (at opening) and stay late (or leave and come back) so you can ride the slides without standing in a line for 45-60 minutes for less than a minute of thrill.  You can ride more in the hour after opening and the hour before closing than you can the other times of the day because of the lines (I am about maximizing your RPD).  For it being a holiday weekend it was crowded but not insanely crowded.  You can do the 36 hour trip like we did (leave at 11am Sat and get home 11pm on Sun) and have a blast (a little tired the next day).  If you wanted to splurge and stay two nights you could skip staying real late on the last day.  You need to book early.  It is a pay in advance resort (when you book your stay, you pay which is nice because it felt like we were staying for free) and as the number of rooms decrease the price increases.  LA and I had tried to go last year and never committed to going until the prices of the rooms were way too high.  For something fun to do in the winter that you should be doing in the summer, you can't beat it.  Tell them your heard it hear on Our Life.