I forgot how to sign in and get to the website where I can actually write on the blog.
Yup.
Dedication should be my middle name. I'm no quitter.
So here we are first blog post of 2019... and it's almost 2020! haha
oops
A few things have changed in life since I last wrote on this thing.... mainly we have a third child!
So this post is going to be a little bit of everything; back story, labor story, newborn stuff, etc. and as such it's going to be ramble-y, disjointed and sloppy! So feel free to skip all the reading and just enjoy all the sweet pictures!
Part 1:
We're Pregnant!
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| I went to Disneyland for "work" the week I found out so... this was necessary! |
Being pregnant is one thing. Being Pregnant at 36 is another. Being pregnant at 36 with horrible morning sickness and insomnia is enough to make you lose your mind... but...being Pregnant at 36, while sick and going on no sleep with 2 other young children to care for is stuff of nightmares.
Not to be toooo dramatic ;)
This pregnancy was just different all around. There were no monthly belly pictures. No maternity photo shoot. Nothing pretty, nostalgic or whimsical. But, by God's grace this baby grew and grew and the Lord's mercies got me through 9 months!
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| 39 weeks |
I was also thankful to be pregnant again along side my dear friend Rachel! Being pregnant alone is no fun, being pregnant with others is way better! Rachel gave birth to a beautiful baby girl a little before William.
Part 2:
Labor
Just a heads up... this part talks about labor-y things, which is not everyone's cup of tea...so... feel free to skip it. This is more documentation for my own benefit anyway. :)
I was scheduled for an induction on Monday September 30th. Charlie had been a big baby and his shoulders got stuck... so to try and avoid a C-section I opted for a semi-early induction in hopes the baby would be a little smaller and wouldn't get stuck. Truthfully though, I wanted was to go into labor naturally and not be induced. On the other hand though I wanted the scheduling convenience of an induction. I had an appointment time and therefor could plan my life accordingly. No being taken off guard! I could finish all I needed to finish because I would know the date and time of "labor". (Also... I really was hopeful for a September baby because I liked the birthstone better. hashtag stupidIknow.)The Lord saw fit to give me my heart's desire in so many ways! I had my induction scheduled so it was in my schedule and I could get everything I needed to done in time. But then, the day of my induction I went into labor! I started with contractions in the morning which progressed throughout the day... and by the time that I was in Target at the customer service counter returning a chair I had bought a few days prior I was having pretty significant contractions. (Sorry Target employee.... awkward, I know.) Also... Lucy is traumatized for life after that Target run.
I got to the hospital at my scheduled time and I was 4 cm and clipping along! It was nice because as I was laboring in the lobby the tour group of pregnant couples came waltzing through... don't mind me... just having a baby in the lobby, nbd.
My sister to the tour group: Here's what you have to look forward to!
Thanks, Marji.
Commence breathing and grunting.
This labor, as with the pregnancy, was my hardest. Thankfully though, it was also my fastest! The epidural did not work (I am 0 for 3 with epidurals working as they should. But this was the lamest epidural yet.) I felt everything... except my right leg. I kept pressing that button for more juice and it ALL went to my right leg. So... I could not move that leg for days afterward! haha So my leg was doing really well, not an ounce of pain there... everywhere else...let me just say... HOLY HECK I never want to do that again. My contractions were fast, they were intense and they were right on top of each other. It was great to have Greg, my sister and my mom in the delivery room with me... it was especially great when I was laboring and screaming in pain while Greg and my sister lightened the mood with jokes... none of which I found funny. Glad everyone was enjoying themselves :) (I'm not really bitter... ) Other things this labor gave me that others didn't... water breaking! Around 6 cm dilated my water broke! That's never happened before - it's like someone threw a water balloon at me! (TMI?) It scared me half to death! haha But yay for new experiences! The last thing that I had hoped and prayed for in this delivery was the baby would come quickly and smoothly with no trauma or dystocia like with Charlie! I did not want a repeat of Charlie's birth. Once it was time to push William wasn't about to take his time... in 2.5 contractions that little bundle came out with zero issue! I could not believe how fast! And then within a second that slimy little smurf was on my chest! My smallest baby yet at 9lbs 1 oz!
What a wonder it all is! Such an incredible miracle! I am in awe remembering this at how merciful God was to me, and how good! This baby was a surprise, my pregnancy was rough, but he still blessed with so many of my heart's desires for the process of bringing this baby into the world! I am so thankful!
There is no way to describe that moment between push and a baby's first cry. I am so thankful to have had my sister taking photos and videos this time around so that I could re-live it, remember it and always have that to look back on. It seems odd... who wants video and photos what ultimately looks and sounds like a torturous battle is being fought and everyone loses... but truly, I am so so glad to have these because the memories of labor and birth fade. This is my last baby, so I will cherish these sweet tokens forever.
My mom got to be a part of her 11th grandchild's delivery. She has gotten to see each and every one of her grandchildren come into the world!
My sister was so encouraging and positive during the whole process! She was such a blessing to have there with me! I am so thankful for her friendship, love and support!
William, unlike his siblings, was born at Harrisburg Hospital instead of the HMC. We were just not liking the way Hershey handled Charlie's delivery. In addition I did not like the pre-natal care I was getting through HMC so around 25 weeks I switched practices and it was the best decision I could have made! I am so thankful for the care I received from Woodward & Associates. We also were so thankful for the labor and delivery experience as well as the postpartum care. All in all we are so thankful to have gone to Harrisburg for his birth and if we were having another (which we most certainly are not) we would do it again!
And so began life with this new little boy.
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| William did not have a name for almost 2 days! This is Greg and I trying to figure out what to call him! Nothing like the last second! |
Life changes so quickly - in a moment life as we knew it would never be the same. This little life that we barely knew was now part of our crew. We transitioned from a family of 4 to a family of 5. Growing up in a family of 5, it just seems the perfect number! It was so exciting and so bewildering all at the same time. I truly couldn't wait for Lucy and Charlie to come visit. I couldn't wait to see how they reacted to this new baby. How they processed that this was in mommy's belly and then wasn't. Just how their sweet little minds and hearts would wrap around this new baby brother. I was eagerly anticipating that moment!
And I was not disappointed! What a welcome from these 2 sweet kiddos. From the moment they walked in the room and saw them their eyes were wide and bright!
"Wow! He's so adorable!" on repeat from both of them!
"Mom, who took it out of you?" - Lucy, the inquisitive one. ;)
"Does he have hands?" -Charlie (His extremities were hidden in the swaddle.)
"What's his name?" - We had only decided on a name moments before their arrival!
"I want to hold the whole thing"-Charlie, wanting to hold the baby and not just part of him.
so much love and adoration poured out of them on this new addition. My heart exploded!
Lucy immediately went into "mom mode". This baby was now hers, in her mind. She wanted to hold him, comfort him, feed him, touch him, kiss him, talk to him, everything! She was enamored!
Charlie too... until he found the pacifier and bulb syringe which were a little more entertaining at that moment. ;)
We were so glad to head home as a new family of 5. I know there will be a long period of adjustment - adjusting not only to life with a newborn, but also life with a newborn and 2 other kids. I would be lying if I said I felt confident going into this new season... I do not. But I know the God I serve is good and all good things are from Him. I pray I remember to lean heavy on Him and His Word as I inevitably struggle through and fail as this mom-of-three gig.
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