Hannah's Birth Day

Hannah was born 9 days late. As awful as that sounds, it was my own choice to wait so long. I was hoping not to be induced so we could try delivering naturally. And we did it! I decided to try using HypnoBirthing techniques so I wouldn't just be gritting my teeth to get through it. Danny and I had prepared and practiced the best we could amidst our move and Thanksgiving.

I can't really say why I wanted to do a natural delivery. I've always been of the opinion that we've got modern medicine, so use it. But about six weeks before my due date, HypnoBirthing was on my mind a lot after talking with some friends about their experiences. Surprisingly, I was easily able to change my former opinion and try something new.

The day we went to the hospital to have Hannah, I was already dilated to 5 cm. I got all hooked up to the pitosin drip and the monitors by 6 a.m. From then till 10:00 the contractions were regular, but easily managable. Danny and I used the HypnoBirthing tools we'd practiced.

At 10:15 I was dilated to 6 cm. and my doctor broke my water. The very next contraction was 10 times stronger than before and I realized we'd upped the anti. It was hard not to think I was in over my head and I tried to stay positive. But boy, were those contractions amazingly intense! I don't feel like I was able to really get into the zone. Luckily Hannah was born at 10:47, so it didn't last long at all. Danny was an awesome partner and I couldn't have done it without him.

Here's one of the first pictures of her. I didn't get to hold her right away because she'd already had her first myconium in-utero, so they had to wisk her away in case there was a need to clean out her lungs with a tube. They didn't need to, luckily.

During the delivery, her shoulders got kind of stuck and they had to unwedge them. They feared her clavicle was fractured, but after a couple of checks, it was determined all was well.

I finally got to hold her. She looked so much like Megan to me. I accidentally call her Megan all the time.

Daddy's turn.

My other babies haven't been pacifier users, but in the hospital we discovered she loves to suck. Better to use the pacifier instead of me!

Getting ready to head home from the hospital.

In her carseat.

On the drive home. She loves that pacifier.

Neither the kids nor my mom came to the hospital to see us because Emily had been throwing up the day before we went in. So this is the first time seeing her. They all loved her.

Dallin was first to hold her.

Then Emily.

We didn't think Megan would have an opinion one way or the other, but she sure let us know she wanted a turn to hold "Bobby" (Baby). It was really cute.

Grandma's turn.

We're so happy to have Baby Hannah in our family!

Meet Baby

Hannah

Born December 17

8 lbs., 1 oz.

20 1/2 in.
Hair color is undetermined (strawberry blonde, light brown, red??)

We are in love.

Why I won't get voted Mother of the Year

I'm still here, big and pregnant. My wonderful mother is coming on Sunday whether or not Baby has come, so all the anticipated drama of farming my kids out, etc. might not even happen (which is fine with me).

Before Baby comes and posting possibly becomes nonexistent for a while, I've just got to post about this little incident which was highly unfortunate and hilariously horrible. It happened last Thursday after picking Dallin up from preschool.

Typically, when we get Emily off the bus after school, we take the five minute jaunt to the bus stop on foot. On Dallin's preschool days, though, traffic is often such that I'm afraid we'll be late to the bus stop if we drive to our house and then walk there, so sometimes we just drive straight to the bus stop. The bus stop is in front of a vacant house up for sale so I just pull into the driveway, pop open the "trunk" of the van, and we tail gate it in the very back of the van till the bus arrives.

Last Thursday, soon after we arrived at the bus stop, Dallin said he had to go potty. I told him to try to hold it the best he could till we got home, but he said it was coming really fast. I then tried to distract him by talking about what we saw around us. That didn't work. I really didn't want him to have to just go potty in his pants, nor did I feel good about letting him go in someone else's yard, even if it is just a vacant house.

I remembered we had two cups in the console of our van from when we went out to eat for my birthday two days earlier (I turned 31 on the 30th. Good times all around. Danny got me a new lens for my camera and a Dyson!! Loving them both!). They were the cups the kids had had their water in and looked like this. I felt it was the best option we had so I had Dallin go potty in one of the cups, even though I felt a little weird. It was my first time taking advantage of the fact that Dallin is a boy and can go potty wherever.


Okay, so he pottied in the cup, no big deal right? Well, it wouldn't have been, but I made a HUGE mistake. I didn't feel good about dumping the potty out in the yard or in the gutter, so I put the lid back on (straw and all) and put it back in the console of the van next to the other cup which contained water. I just thought I'd dump it out once we got home, throw the cup away, no harm done. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The bus arrived a few minutes later and after our after-school greetings, Emily hopped in the van. I lagged behind getting to the van because I had to help Dallin and Megan get out of the back. I came around the van to put Megan in her car seat I saw Emily standing at the console. As it registered in my mind what could be happening, I hoped beyond all hope that it wasn't actually happening. I shouted, "No, no, no! Don't drink it, don't drink it, don't....!"

I was too late. There was a 50% chance Emily would pick the cup with the water and a 50% chance she'd pick the one with the urine. As you probably have already surmised, she very unfortunately picked the one with the potty, which was probably still warm! I got to her in time to see a terribly sour look on her face as she spit the contents of her mouth all over the console and her shirt. The poor thing!

"What was that?" were the first words out of her mouth, her face still disfigured in disgust as I apologized profusely. Feeling completely revolted and trying not to laugh at the same time, I told her exactly what it was. She surprisingly took the news really well and mercifully didn't hold it against me. Her next question was "Why is it in this cup?" I explained the reason, still apologizing like crazy and thinking how glad I am that urine is pretty much sterile.

When all was said and done, she said she did actually swallow a little. When we got home I gave her an unusually large drink of apple juice and some Ritz to help rid her mouth of the bad taste that still lingered.

The lesson learned? Just dump the dang pee out under a bush next time! I'm sure that's what Mothers of the Year do, which is why we can count me out. Too bad this happened so close to the end of the year. I'm positive I would've won otherwise.

Waiting for Baby

Here I am just two days away from my due date. In hindsight I should've worn something a little more flattering than a shirt I grew out of long ago. But let's be honest; at this point, that's pretty much the status of all my shirts and besides, there's really nothing on earth that would be flattering when one is this big, right? To make me feel better though, I'll let it be known that yesterday 4 people thought I looked "great" and "amazing" and "still two months left". I wanted to kiss them.


I've chosen this time around not to get induced and so we wait. In the past I've definitely taken for granted the certainty and ease which having an induction date provide, and for two of my deliveries, having both moms in the same town. For the past couple of weeks, I've coordinated to whom and where to send my kids if it happens during the day, who will come stay at our house if it happens during the night, who will pick up Emily from the bus stop or school, and what to do with Dallin if it happens while he's at preschool. All these things till my mom can get here from Mesa, an hour and a half drive, or so. A tender mercy is our fantastic ward and the myriad of wonderful friends who have offered to help in every way.

Today the doctor said I'm at a 4+, 70% effaced, and "soft as butter". Because I'm already so progressed and my history of short labors, she said not to wait till my contractions are 2-3 minutes apart, but to head to the hospital when they are 7-8 minutes apart. She also said if my water breaks not to wait for Danny to get here from work (a 30-45 minute drive), but to have someone drive me to the hospital. So that's another thing to try and coordinate. I've never had my water break, nor have I ever gone into labor on my own so we'll see if we can do this thing.

So, keep an eye out for the post about our new baby's arrival. It could happen any time. We can't wait to hold her, name her, and see her hair color.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving weekend in Mesa and got to enjoy time with both sides of the family. We got there on Wednesday evening and stayed at my sister, Jennifer's. We spent Thursday and Sunday with my side, and Friday and Saturday with the Dixon side.

Jennifer rented a bounce-house. It was a huge hit with the kids.

It was great just to be outside.

I loved being around everyone during all the prep of the delicous Thanksgiving dinner.

The kids' table.

So much GOOD FOOD.

We got to play a game of kickball - boys vs. girls. I can't remember who won.

Megan's been into putting on any glasses she can get little hands on. I love this shot.

Some photos from the days with the Dixons. Fondant making is something that happens every holiday season. The kids loved helping and tasting.

The weather was beautfiul and allowed plenty of time to play out in Aunt Stacy's newly landscaped backyard. It is a great backyard.

Uncle Ben got some new wheels and everyone got to ooh and ahh over it.

How totally stinkin' cute is this? Megan loved putting on Grandma's glasses any chance she got.

Stacy told the kids that Uncle Ben would play a "game" with them. No one knew what game it was. It turned out to be "Try To Drop Whipped Cream into Uncle Ben's Mouth", for which he definitely earned the Uncle of the Year Award in my book.

The kids got to help decorate Aunt Stacy's Christmas tree.

There are oodles of other things that happened on both sides that aren't documented here that just made the weekend great. We're so thankful for the terrific families we have!

Walkin' on Sunshine

This is old news (and the pictures are several weeks old), but, nonetheless, Megan is walking!

She's been at it for about a month and improves every day. At the beginning, whenever she'd walk to someone successfully she'd yell, "Yay yay yay!!" She still does it when she feels she's accomplished something great and it's pretty dang cute.

Oh, she also has learned to come down the new stairs safely, a big relief.