Having Reed

I wanted to wait as long as possible before going to the hospital.  It only feels harder once you're stuck in bed and have monitors strapped to you.  I told Jess to take me to Sonic for an ice water first.  He thought I was crazy, but took me anyway.  We didn't quite make it though, because as we got close another contraction hit, and was noticeably more intense.  I told him "Never mind, we better get to the hospital."  Then I tried to hang out in the parking lot before going in, but the next one was even more intense, so I told him never mind again.  Ha.  They checked me in really quickly, and wheeled me upstairs.  Melissa ended up being one of my two nurses.  They were both awesome.  They checked me right away, and I was at about 7 cm.  I was a little disappointed to hear that, I was at 8 when I got there with Cason, and pretty much ready to push when I got there with Neely.  Ha.  I was hoping for that again.  They called Dr. Whipp, who was awesome and came in for us even though he wasn't on call.  While we waited for him, they got my monitors on and my IV fluids going.  Dr. Whipp got there really quickly, and I was already 8 cm.  He went down to get a coffee, and Jess and I were alone in the room most of the time.

I had decided this pregnancy that I was going to try really hard to relax and not be afraid of the pain.  The whole experience did feel different, I think partly because it was in the morning, instead of the middle of the night like the other three.  I also think it was partly because I did handle it differently.  I don't think it LOOKED like I handled it differently, but I really focused on relaxing during the contractions, and I felt more aware of everything this time.  I could actually feel him moving lower and lower with some of the contractions.  I've never noticed that the other times.  Unfortunately my relaxation didn't magically make it less painful.  Ha.

They'd brought up a tray of "food"-broth and a sort of shaved ice thing.  Jess fed me bites of those whenever I asked, and other than that I mostly listened to the music he'd put on for me, closed my eyes a lot, prayed some, and talked with Jess between contractions.  Dr. Whipp mentioned breaking my water soon, but I asked if we could wait as long as possible before doing that.  Sometime between 9 and 10 cm it broke on it's own.  I told Jess to go get them and let them know.  They hurried in to check, and Dr. Whipp said it was just about time and asked if I felt like pushing.  It wasn't an overwhelming thing like with Neely, where I couldn't HELP but push, but I did feel some pressure.  So they got everything ready.  Dr Whipp is short, but was standing to deliver the baby, so they lifted the table really high.  I was in the serious part of labor, it always starts to get much more painful for me at about 9 cm, so I mostly had my eyes closed by this point. but I did notice I felt more separate from Jess during pushing this time.  Turns out it was because the table was so high he could barely reach me.  Ha!  He did put an arm around me, kind of across my chest.  I reached up and held on to his arm with both of my hands-couldn't manage to put him in a headlock like when I was having Neely.  Haha.

I was excited to know it was almost over and almost time to meet our baby, but of course terrified, because I know the pain has to get SO much worse before it's over.  I got him out in one contraction, probably like 30 seconds, but it felt like an eternity of course.  I heard Dr. Whipp say that the cord was around his neck.  It didn't scare me too much, because he sounded very calm and matter of fact, and I knew his heart rate and everything had been fine.  A moment later he was out.  They lifted him onto the bed, sort of onto my lap, and I thought he was so cute.  It's cool how no matter how many times you do it, it's still so amazing to see your baby for the first time.  I reached down to touch him while they wiped him off quickly, and handed him up to me to hold.  I kept just saying "Hi" and "Hi buddy".  I wasn't really registering much of anything else around us but was vaguely aware of everyone else talking and just making happy sounds.  I immediately checked if he was really a boy, and noticed he was big, just as the doctor and nurses commented that he was good sized.  I didn't think he was as big as I was expecting though.  He was also a little purple, and Melissa had to suction out his nose and mouth, and gave him maybe 10 seconds of oxygen.  He turned nice and pink really quickly.  I just held him and we stared at each other.

He was so cute.  Wide awake and quiet and just staring back at me while holding on to my finger.  He kept blinking and I was laughing at how much he squished his face up, his forehead all crinkled like he was annoyed at how bright it was in the room.   I remember one of the first things I said to Jess was "He IS Reed, isn't he?", and Jess agreed.  We had still never really found a backup name, so it's a good thing I felt like that was the name for him once I saw him.  Jess snuck off to say his thank you prayer, which I didn't even realize until he came back a bit later, all teary eyed.

Reed was so sweet and quiet and cuddly.  Another angel baby, and we already loved him SO much.

I like this bird's eye view of him cuddling my shoulder.

After I got to hold him and feed him(he's another pro eater) they took him to weigh and measure-8 lbs 9.9 ounces and 19.5 inches long.  So not only was he NOT bigger than Neely, he was actually our second SMALLEST baby.  My belly was a liar.

They got him back to us quickly, and we got to spend a few happy hours, just the three of us.

Grandma picked Paige up from school a little bit early, and Jess went to pick up all three of them to come and meet Reed.  We'd promised them they would be the first to meet him.

A Catch-Up Post

The last few weeks of my pregnancy we were IN our house, but not really moved in because we were waiting for carpet.  So we had the necessities here, but most of our stuff was in storage.  Our computer was set up, but sitting on the ground, and I was pretty largely pregnant to be sitting on the ground to blog.  So here are my belly pics from those last weeks.

37 weeks:  Can't find this one!  I know we took one every week, so if I figure out where this one is I'll add it later.

38 weeks:

39 weeks(this is technically a couple days early, but none we took the day I was actually 39 weeks turned out-the lighting was crazy)

I had my appointment on Thursday, when I was 38.5 weeks.  The doctor checked me and said I was at 4 cm.  I wasn't having contractions or anything, but it made me nervous knowing I was that far along and still had 4 days before the carpet would be put in.  

Jess turned 31 on Saturday, so on Friday night Grammy babysat so we could go to dinner.  Jess was feeling fancy, so he chose Golden Corral.  We both actually really like it, but I didn't have the best time because I was being stared at so blatantly by SO MANY PEOPLE.  One older man was eating alone, and as I walked past him he looked down at my belly and had a look of disgust on his face!  Actually, in a way it WAS fun because Jess and I did a lot of laughing.  Then we went to Starbucks, and to Walmart for one last walk through the baby section for fun.

Sunday was a nesting day.  We couldn't do much indoor cleaning, with boxes everywhere and all, but we washed our car, and all the carseats and their covers, installed the baby's carseat, and gave Gia a bath.

I was so excited when we made it to September 30th, and I was still pregnant.  The guys came bright and early and started putting carpet in.  They'd finished by about 1 pm, and I got right to work vacuuming.  Jess got off early so we could start getting stuff out of storage.  I picked Paige up from school and we met Jess and my dad at our storage unit.  We(they) managed to load everything into the vehicles and onto dad's trailer and get it home in one trip.  We spent the afternoon and evening wiping down our furniture and moving it into the house.  Somehow we got the kids ready for bed and to sleep, and then Jess and I (just Jess again actually) set up the baby's room.  I helped by relaxing in my glider/recliner and imagining feeding my baby in his cloud room.  Jess put the crib together, brought in his dresser, hung the letters to spell his name(Thanks Grammy), the cloud mobile, and the beautiful cloud shelves Uncle Randy built and I painted.  

Then he put the swing together.  I washed all his newborn and 0-3 month clothes (again) and put them away.  It felt so good to have made it and for him to have a room before he arrived.  (Not that we ever actually thought we'd be putting him in there right away).

I had Jess take a belly pic in there.  Sorry 'bout the lighting, it was probably 11 by this time.  This was 39 weeks 1 day.

I went to bed feeling so glad we'd made it, and planning to get up in the morning and start unpacking and setting up the rest of the house.  I slept really well until about 4:30 am.  I woke up with an upset stomach.  It wasn't too weird, I tend to have that happen toward the end of my pregnancies.  Lots of early mornings I'll wake up with pains or contractions, take a warm bath, and feel better.  So that's what I did.  I went back to sleep at about 6, and slept well again, all the way until 9:30, thanks to our kids sleeping in.  Jess was awesome and got Paige ready for school and let me sleep.  

When we DID get up at about 9:30 I immediately noticed I was having contractions, while I got the kids up to get breakfast.  They were intense enough that I knew right away we were going to have a baby soon, but not super painful.  After we'd been up a while, Jess texted to ask how I was.  I told him I was having the contractions, but not consistent or close enough together to bother timing.  So he told me to time a few.  They were all between 3 and 4 minutes apart.  Ha!  If I'd had to guess I would have told him they were like 10-15 minutes apart.  I'm ridiculous.  Guess I won't trust my sense of time again.  One of the first ones I timed for him was noticeably more intense than the last, too.  So when I told him they were getting more painful and he heard how close together they were, he headed home.  My Grama was here at the time, and said she'd stay with the kids until Grammy made it.  We packed our stuff, and by the time we were ready, Grammy arrived.  I kissed the kids goodbye and we headed off to have a baby.

I had Jess write his version of the birth in that last post, because he has in the past with the other kids, but I'll be posting my version soon too.  

Head Down Baby!

Well, the carpet won't go in until NEXT week.  I was disappointed, but there's always a silver lining.  More days to paint and get things how I'd really like them.  Jess has been awesome, working so hard every waking moment.  He gets home from work, we eat dinner and head right over to the house and he works until just about time to go back to Grama's and get everyone ready for bed.  We get them to sleep and then I'll do my workout and my exercises to turn this baby head down, while he'll work for the OTHER school (back in OKC) on the computer until 1 or 2 am, if not later.  Then he wakes up and starts over.  It will be nice to get moved in and finish up the projects so he can have a little time to relax, and get some sleep.  (For about a week anyway, then we'll have a newborn, ha.)  I bet Grama will like having a little space again-not to mention her dog back from Aunt Mollie and Uncle Tim's.

Thanks to Uncle Chris the kids now have a game cube that keeps them entertained at the house while Jess is painting or tearing out carpet or whatever.  I was unpacking bathroom stuff over there one night while they played Mario Kart, and Neely found the headbands in the box I had.  She told Cason he was "an gewrl" (The way she pronounces girl is pretty hard to spell out phonetically I just found out) and talked him into wearing a headband too.  He's such a good brother, does whatever she asks(or demands).

He's also still a cute little artist.  He often draws things he knows I like, so rain clouds and snails have been popular lately.

Grammy saw my post about Neely wanting to "peent", so she met us over at the house yesterday with paint and little rollers so the kids could all help her paint a closet.  They all had fun, but Neely especially was so excited.  She talked about it nonstop on the drive over.

Then they planted grass seed out front, so hopefully it'll be looking nice again soon.

I had an appointment today, and this boy is head down!  Either I am crazy and he was never sideways at all, or all the hanging upside down this past week did the trick.  :)  I think it has helped though, because I've felt kicks higher up the last couple of days, but still a little over to the side so I wasn't sure.  I'm so happy and relieved!  I would be very sad to go from planning it drug and intervention free to having to have a C-section!  So please pray that he stays head down. 

The achiness has hit all of a sudden.  I wake up with throbbing femurs and crazy calf cramps.  I'm definitely waddling around and have a tough time getting out of bed.  Pretty much have to roll out, now.  :)  I feel big sometimes, and other times not that big, but my pelvis is definitely aching.  I must look good sized though, because this last week the looks started.  I went into Walmart alone the other night and everywhere I walked heads were turning and obviously staring at me.  I hate being along when that stuff happens, because it's harder to pretend not to notice everyone looking.  Ha.  I got quite a few comments one certain day, so I had to go into Grama's bathroom where the mirror was at the right height for a belly selfie, ha.  The shape makes me laugh.

Baby Shower #4

Tyra threw me a little baby shower this weekend.  I didn't think I'd get one, with it being my fourth baby and everything.  Ha.  I didn't need gifts or anything, but it still makes me a little sad for any of our babies to not get a party.  I'd thought about doing one after he's born, just so people could come and meet him and celebrate him, but then it'll be flu season, and he'll have enough parties in his first few weeks between Halloween and the girls' birthdays.  Anyway, the shower was really nice.  Small, so it was just close friends and family, and fun.  They all had mimosas, and we all had good food and dessert.  Then they gave us lots of really cute little outfits and gifts for him.  Every single outfit was something I LOVED and would have bought myself-some I almost HAD bought.  (Sorry-I'm now going to post pictures of lots of it because I want him to believe that we did have a shower to celebrate him, even though I have no pictures of the actual event-at least none that turned out)

 

 

 

 

I have no idea why I randomly started taking pictures sideways.

We also got some good bath stuff, and things to decorate the room-including this painting by Skye, which I love!

  

I wish the carpet was in so I could set up his room already!

We also got a blessing ring, some stuff for bath time, and a bib and really nice swaddling blankets.

 

Tyra, Veronica, Marcy, Skye, Paige and I went out on the back porch to talk, because it was so nice and cool and cloudy out.  The sky was so pretty.

We stayed out there talking for at least a couple of hours.  It was fun. Thanks everyone!

The next morning, Sunday, I was 36 weeks.  Sometimes I feel like my belly is gigantic, but I don't as much the last couple of days. 

 

I have been worried that this baby is transverse.  None of ours have ever been breech or transverse, and I really want to everything with no interventions again.  I'm starting to do some exercises to encourage him to move head down, I really hope it works.  Pray that he moves down please, I really don't want a c-section.  :(  Mostly just pray that he arrives safe and healthy though.  

I had a serious belly rub in Walmart the other day.  The lady that checked us out came around the counter, and very gently, slowly, and intimately rubbed my belly in circles.  Ha.  I actually don't mind having strangers touch my belly-it's another reminder of being pregnant, so it makes me happy.  This one caught me off guard a tad though, it was SO intimate-a caress in fact. 

Anyway, we went over to the house after church to work again.  I quickly remembered how worthless I am over there at the moment.  Jess was working, I was standing around and trying to keep Neely from stepping on the little tacks left on the strips after pulling up the carpet.  I told Jess I had no idea what to work on and he said I should take a trip to Target and use the money and gift cards we also got from people at the shower.  So Tyra drove down with me and the girls, and Cason stayed with Jess and Chris, and helped move some stuff to the house. 

Neely wore her birthday hat she got at church(it was the first anniversary) the whole time.  I'm used to that stuff now and didn't even really notice until Tyra said something about loving that Neely wore it all day, and all through Target. 

 

Thanks to all those generous folks we got our carseat, some cute Halloween socks,

a cute little Frankenstein outfit, 

and a couple more sleep gowns, which are one of my favorite baby things on Earth.

 

Then we came home and went back to the house.  Jess was back to getting the floors ready for carpet, and I spent my time decorating for Halloween.  Maybe a tad premature but I just don't care.

Cason is FIVE!

This soccer playing fellow turned five on Sunday. 

 He'd been counting down the days for quite a while.  Saturday we had to go to Las Vegas, because Jess had to go to a meeting.  It started out as probably the most stressful day trip I've ever been a part of.  Ha.  The kids were tired from their sleepover with Alex and Faith the night before, and everyone was yelling all at the same time while we were rushing to find the Apple store and get my new phone in time to get Jess to his meeting.  We did eventually manage to get me a new phone(mine had been broken for almost two weeks), and got lunch. 

 

Then we dropped Jess off for his meeting and the kids and I went to Party City so Cason could find some stuff for the Iron Man party he wanted.  I got probably the grumpiest I ever have with the kids during the drive because everyone was fighting while I struggled to find my way through Vegas, (and navigation has NEVER been my thing).  I was so grumpy I made Cason(our sensitive one) cry.  The girls didn't care a bit that I was mad.  Well, Neely did, but she just got mad back.  Ha.  We eventually found what we needed, and went back for Jess.  After that, we took them to Chuck E. Cheese for the birthday boy.  By then, our day was much better.  Especially for the kids of course, who got to run around playing games for a couple of hours.  I mostly watched from a booth, one I could BARELY fit into.

 Cason was everywhere, I never even got a picture of him.  The only one I got of the girls is this one of them on a "ride", which they were enjoying even if it doesn't look like it at all.  Ha.

Then we ate and took Cason to Toys R Us for a birthday boy shopping spree.  He picked out some Iron Man and War Machine toys.

He had his party here at Grama's house the next day.  

While we prepared, Paige managed to blow up her first ever balloon.

 He loved it, and later told me it was "probably his best birthday ever." 

He was funny, blew the candles out the second we started singing "Happy Birthday" to him.  Later he told me "I just kinda forgot cuz I haven't been to any birthdays in a while."  Ha. 

He loved all his gifts, but was VERY stoic as he opened them, and would quietly say "thank you" while barely moving his mouth.  :)  He gets embarrassed by that stuff.  Guess we'll have to talk to him about smiling so people know he likes their gifts.  Ha.

Oh, I was also 34 weeks on his birthday.

"Cars Can Drive"

Aivree had a birthday party a couple of weekends ago, which Neely and I missed because Neely was sick.  Paige and Cason did cute Mickey and Minnie cards for her.  I can't find a picture of Cason's.  :(

Here's the one Paige did though.

We had a couple of weeks left of summer to just hang out together.

Grama came home the weekend before school started and they were SO happy to see her.  Cason had been asking daily how much longer until he'd see her.  

 Paige started back to school last week.  Since we moved home we decided to put her back in school.  I really liked homeschooling her and I still think it's awesome for lots of kids.  She just is such a social butterfly and gets a lot of enjoyment out of being at school with classmates that I felt like she was less excited to learn, which is most important to me.  Plus, what makes me think I'M qualified to teach her?  Haha.  She was VERY excited.  Especially when she found out she'd have daily math homework this year.  I notice she still wants some time to play before DOING that homework each night though.  :)

The other two are having fun together.

 Paige and Cason both started soccer practice.  They're both excited, but Cason is SOOOO excited.  He gets dressed about 4 hours before practice each day, cleats and shin guards and all.  Around 8:30 am he starts asking me "how many minutes 'til soccer practice?"  He has never (so far) cared much about sports-he's more of a robots and superheroes kinda guy.  Apparently soccer is his thing though.  He works SOOOO hard at practice.  He has a coach who takes it fairly seriously apparently, because they do way more running than I've ever seen kids that age have to do.  Including having to run when they aren't paying attention to the coach.  Ha.  Cason is always the one who IS paying attention, and he runs as hard as he possibly can the whole time.  It's so cute, he hustles harder than anyone in history. 

 His team is "The Hound Dogs".  

Neely has been doing lots of drawing.  Lots of "fwiends".  She likes to tell me who each one is and how they feel.  There's usually a "happy" guy, someone who's sad because they lost a toy, and sometimes a guy who "doesn't fink(think)".  Ha. 

She asked me to do a boat for her one day so she could put "fwiends" in it.  I love her little waves beneath it.

 One day while drawing she was having some tea.  Cason asked her if she wanted to come play with him and she asked him to let her finish her "coffee" first.  Ha. 

I've missed some belly pics, so here's two Sundays ago-32 weeks...

...aaaand this last Sunday, 33 weeks.

It's at the point now where I'm getting the twin comments or the "any day now huh?" from strangers.  Ha.  People who know me well claim I'm not very big.  Don't worry family-I'm not sensitive about having a big baby belly.  Kinda like it in fact.  At least now, while I still have 2 or 3 shirts that SEMI fit.   

I had a doctors appointment yesterday.  Grama kept Cason, but Neely wanted to come, so she and I met Jess at the office.  She made a friend in the waiting room, a little girl a bit younger than her.  The girl didn't talk, but managed to befriend Neely anyway, by approaching her with a big smile and handing her a Smurf toy.  Neely accepted it, smiled at the girl, and they stared for a few seconds.  I guess Neely wanted to make conversation, because she did this cute hand gesture like she was going to say something important and told the girl "Cars can drive."  Haha.  We were cracking up.  Now we like to randomly say it to each other the same way she did.