We had visitors last week!

Last week, my friend A. was on a road trip to Oregon, and was able to stop in for a brief visit on her way past. She is a brave lady, traveling alone with 4 kids, the youngest barely a month old!

This is A. and me, holding our little blue bundles of joy. While we sat and visited for a while, our children had a blast playing, jumping on the trampoline, and getting to know eachother.

C. and K. are sitting together on the couch discussing their plans for world domination. The plans are a bit sketchy, but it seems to involve cuteness and charm. You can decide which child will contribute which part of the plan ;) When they weren't discussing the "big plan" they were practicing the skills involved with homesteading... Checking the doors and windows of the playhouse, and making sure that the roof was water tight. They got along GREAT!

The girls, h. AM. and E. AM spent her time bouncing and playing with M, but is a camera ham... So she snuck into the picture :) E. and h. played Dress up, puzzles, and Little People. They seemed to enjoy the more mellow activities. E.'s sweet little voice still echoes in my head :)

This is h. again, standing with M. They are both 6 years old! My skills with my new camera and my new blog are quite lacking, and I haven't figured out how to rotate pics yet. M. REALLY enjoyed the trampoline, and hanging out on top of the roof of the playhouse.

This is J. and Jacob. They are only about 5 weeks apart. They spent their time in arms, enjoying fresh milk, snuggles, and sleep. I don't think either was aware of the other.

We enjoyed our visit, and we hope to have A. and her family over again sometime. My girls were really hoping for a slumber party! LOL

Oh Baby!!!

My youngest daughter has been having a bad day. It started last night really, when she sprained her ankle while jumping on the trampoline with daddy. She's doing better today, walking on it and everything, but her balance is a bit off.

She decided to try something new today. She put socks (matching ones even!!) on her hands, and was running her hands inside the tub. She slipped and tumbled in head first. After crying over the initial surprise of falling in, she moved on to wanting to ride her new bike. It seems she's not big enough to open the big garage door, and she seems to think she's so cute, I'll do it for her. *smile* not today baby girl... You need to heal!

She was winding herself up more and more, when grandma came over and did thereputic touch on her ankle. While she was laying on the couch letting grandma feel her ankle, she slowly drifted off to sleep. She was so tired, she didn't even wake up while being moved to bed, or while I changed her diaper.

Sour Grass

These little flowers are the greatest spring time treat! Growing up, we called it Sour Grass. All I knew was it is the greatest treat to munch on. Its crisp, tart, and surprising. It would go GREAT on a salad. You pick the flowers from the base of the tall stem. You eat the stem, all the way up to the flower. I suppose you could eat the flower too... My 2 year old does!

This is where we found it growing in our new back yard. Joy of Joys!!

Sweet baby...

Ahh the sweet peace of a sleeping baby.

Such moments are scattered through out our day, short bursts of time where he is sleeping. In that time, I think I am supposed to be resting. I'm not. Today, I got 2 loads of laundry through. I'm folding them now, inbetween thoughts.

My older children have been trying hard to be good and to be helpful. Sometimes, they even manage to do both. Today we managed to get some school work done; having all 4 children on one bed with momma is a bit crowded. I need a bigger bed. *grin*

So here he sleeps, all warm and cozy in momma's spot. Sweet baby...

The birth of my son

Jacob Anthony
3-15-09 5:15pm
6 pounds 10 ounces
20 inches

You could say I was in labor for weeks... Since Latent Labor is the time it takes for effacement and dilating to 4cm. This step had started back at 34 weeks. I am NOT going to sit and jabber on about the last 4 weeks LOL

I'd rather just skip to when Active Labor started. :)

4:45 am I woke up and went potty. When I laid back down, a contraction started, and this one wasn't a Bh one. Not even a STRONG Bh one like some of the others were... This one was REAL, but there is plenty of time. I went back to sleep and was doing pretty good at sleeping through them, until Dh playfully tickled me at 5:30.

(Did I mention Dh rented Fireproof for me, watched it with me, and plans on BUYING it??)

Anyways, I lay there timing things for a while and we were 6-7 min apart. When I got up and moved around they would speed up... but even laying down they were no-matter-what every 6 min. I don't know if I missed a few, or if my body was trying to be kind, and give me breaks, but occasionally I would have 14-20 minute lapses. The intensity was raising though... Yup, plenty of time.

At 7:30 am I text messaged my friend, M., “I hope you don't have plans for today.” She's asleep, we've got plenty of time. I mentioned to Dh that we need to set up the pool and the bed, since baby wasn't going to wait until St. Patrick's Day. Wow! He starts to panic... Slow down honey, let me breathe... LOL We got plenty of time. M. called back, and decided to get some more sleep before coming down (she lives an hour away). I called my mom and let her know that today is the day. She started her morning routine, and would be on her way. Dh and I start setting up the pool, setting up the bed, and putting out supplies. By 10:30 am Dh had cleaned the kitchen, mom had arrived, and M. was on her way.... I am still 6 minutes apart, but unable to walk during one. I am surprised to discover that effaced means GONE.

Yes, I had called the midwife. She was working on trading in a vehicle, and I didn't feel the need for her just yet. I told her to continue taking care of business, I would call her when things changed. I was to continue calling back every hour or so and let her know where I am at.

Mom ended up deciding that I was still working up to it, and we had plenty of time, so she went back home to prepare for her workshop. I took “Call me when we're closer to time” to mean: “Call me when you call the midwife.” This worked out well, for everyone :) M. fed the kids and got them cleaning up the house while I timed contractions and put more supplies together. Dh laid down for a nap after vacuuming the house. It's about 1 pm, I am still a wandering 6 minutes apart, and it is getting difficult to talk during a contraction. We go for a walk. 1 block. All the way around. Contractions are so strong, I am starting to tense up and fight them, 6 min apart.

We finish the walk by 3:50 and putter around in the garage for a bit. I go sit in the recliner and sit back. After 20 minutes, I am puzzled by the lack of contractions. Then they started hitting, 2 minutes apart, hard, and strong, and relentless. I was unable to speak or move, but soon M. noticed and her eyes widened. “Are you ok? How fast are they now? Is that Another one?? (yes or no questions please!!) Should I call the midwife?” (Nod) It's 4:14 pm and the midwives are now on their way. “Call my mom” I gasp out after another crazy ride.

I decide my bed might be a good place to be... while i wait for my hot water... “honey, you need to wake up... It's time to fill the tub” The tub takes a half hour to fill, and the minute it is deemed ready, I am in there. The heat is wonderful... but it does nothing for the pain. LOL I'm in the tub for about 15-20 minutes when the first midwife arrives. She immediately starts putting everything together and asking questions, efficiently catching up to my body's established pace.
3 contractions later, I am climbing the walls of the tub, clinging for dear life, and trying to decide if pushing would help it hurt differently at least. My mom was helping me to remember to breathe, M. was jumping around taking pictures and Dh was holding my hand while I leaned on him. I give a half a push and am surprised by crowning and the un-ruptured bag of waters. I changed my mind. I need to pee. I can't possibly stay here right now.

“I gotta pee.” ” He's crowning” I manage to quietly say. I am trying to be quiet. I was so impressed by my friend who delivered in silence. I am not succeeding though... I am whimpering and whispering “owie” and grunting. Oh well. They all manage to get me back in the water (barely) and I decide the pain will get better if I just finish pushing him out. Maybe I'm at 10 already... 1 push for the head, 1 push for the shoulders... Ok Yea, I was also trying to hold myself together, delivering in this position isn't doing any favors for my parts!

It's 5:15 and 30 seconds when Jacob Anthony is born. He comes up out of the water and starts to cry. They put him on my belly, and I am surprised by the dark hair on his head, and the black fuzz on his shoulders. This little boy looks nothing like his sisters!! I lean back and look at Jacob as I try to relax and breathe a bit. Activity and talking is going on all around me, but I am not paying attention. I decide I need to get out of the water, and they get a spot ready for me on the bed. I sit there holding Jacob and deliver the placenta, which is wrapped up to be looked at later. It takes forever for them to get to cutting the cord, and this confuses me. I am not torn. I am not scraped. I am a bit raw here and there, but all is well.

Eventually, I have a dry naked baby boy in receiving blankets in my arms. He is checked over and all is in proper order. His breathing is a bit rapid (120) but comes down to 90 before the midwives leave. He is weighed, measured, and checked from head to toe. I even know where he is on the percentile charts. LOL The lasagna is done in the oven and supper is distributed to everyone able to eat. People start heading home.. soon it is 9 pm, my kids are in bed, my baby is nursing, and I am exhausted.

Would you believe that sweet boy slept through the night? He only woke when he choked up some flem, and was back to sleep quickly! Here's a few pictures. Hmmm, I can't share most of the pictures... modesty flew out the window sometime after transition.

http://community.webshots.com/album/570552853owwPKj
Peace be with you!