Survival

I officially survived my first day alone with 5 children, granted one is in school all day, but still the routine of life had to keep going and although I am beyond tired I still had to get up and keep with life. There were many tender mercy moments throughout the day that just kept me going and I'm truly grateful!
There were minor interruptions in the routine that threw us off, but we all survived and still wanted to be around each other by bed time, no one prayed for mommy to not be grumpy-I must have done a pretty good job. Lydia is still learning that I will be holding Emily a lot more than she wants and that I can't always have her just climb on my lap. She refused to take a nap today and by bedtime she was so tired and still wouldn't fall asleep. I was nursing Emily and asked Lydia to come sit by me so I could snuggle her while I took care of Emily, she immediately climbed next to me and feel fast asleep. Oh how I miss being able to hold her whenever she asks. We will get there I know. One day down...bring on another!

EMILY LOUISE

We finally picked a name! It wasn't even on our "list", Jake mentioned it and it just worked! (Jake's dad has always wanted a little "Emmy-lou"...we will allow this nickname only from her grandpa-we are not a nickname family, we have always wanted to name our children what we want them to be known as, so this will be a stretch, but for grandpa there will be an exception...) I am just loving her more and more each minute! It's so special the spirit a newborn brings into the home.
The kids can't get enough of her, now that we are home Lydia is doing much better with the idea of having a baby to share attention with. Lydia now has her own baby that she keeps with her at all times, but she is found often giving soft little kisses on Emily's nose or forehead, it is so sweet!

BABY

7am - arrived for induction

8:45am - midwife arrived to break water

10:30am - water finally started leaking, and I started walking to jump start contractions; checking in every half hour for baby heart beat.

12:30pm - contractions started hitting, rested

2:30pm - decided to walk again, only lasted 1/2 hour

3pm - at a 6 and going "quickly", finally got some pain meds, midwife arrived

4:30pm - meds wore off, "walked" in room-this was the real thing

5:09pm - 3-4 pushes later and she was out

8lbs. 14 oz.

19 inches

We still don't have a name...working on that...

She LOVES to eat!

She has two huge, adorable dimples!

She is very alert, and just trying to rest...I'm finding she likes to be on her side...

We are doing very well. Everyone is invited to see her next Saturday, Feb. 20th...I am having an open house for Miche bags-LOVE them (it's my new diaper bag) from 11am- 2pm...feel free to come browse the bags, coddle the baby and see our new home!

Thank you everyone for your love, support, thoughts and prayers.

On her way...

I had some seriously awesome contractions yesterday that started about 1pm. Jake suggested about 7pm that I call the midwife and get some advice since they weren't getting any worse with walking and they would pretty much subside when I sat (at least in any pain level). I finally got in touch with her about 8pm and her suggestion was that I stay home and try to rest through them, if not, then make my way up-in the mean time she said not to wait until my scheduled appointment today, but to come first thing...I went to bed at 10:30pm and only woke a few times to the feelings of contractions. I was more than a little annoyed. We made it to the doctor just after 9am (which is when they open) and prayed and prayed I would be at a 4 or better yet a 5, but seriously I am at a 3.5!!!!!! I wanted to cry and the midwife had joked that if I was still at a 3 that she might cry with me. She immediately asked if we wanted to wait a few more days or just be induced. Jake immediately answered with a positive induction! He skipped school today hoping we could go today and has work covered for tomorrow, but beyond that he can't afford to miss more school or work, so she went to call the hospital while I had a pretty good pity party and silently cried!
We are scheduled to go in tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 7am to begin the induction, which for me has only ever involved them breaking my water. We have to call around 6am to make sure there is still a bed open, before we make the 20 minute trek.
So, as of now our newest addition is on her way....there will be updates tomorrow, keep checking here and facebook. There won't be any pictures right away, but we can surely give small details :)
Thank you all for your support and prayers through these months. We just can't wait to meet our little bundle (still without a name)...

7 days

I'm sure you are sick of hearing about this baby and I feel badly that it's all I have to post about, but seriously when you are planning for the arrival of a new little bundle there's not much more your brain or body thinks about. And then you add 4 children that are constantly adding to the anxious frenzy...

We have officially hit 39 weeks (I have not made it this far since being pregnant with Bryant). I have been having some pretty good contractions since about Wednesday night, but they are too random to make the 20 minute drive just to be told to go home. I have been getting really tired and nauseous feeling in the evenings and Jake has been really good at helping get the kids to bed while I relax (and usually end up falling asleep).
I have an appointment tomorrow morning and hope that the midwife can get something going this week since she will be leaving town Friday afternoon. This should be the week...haha!

We have been staying as busy as possible though. Jake is doing well in school, Bryant is jumping leaps and bounds with his reading, Kayelynn is teaching herself how to read, Sarah is trying so hard to spell her name, and Lydia is just sprouting with her personality daily!! There has been a slight air of tension in the home because we don't want to plan too much just to end up disappointing the kids, so we made Saturday a day away from home; we did a little shopping and then walked and walked and walked the mall. The kids were a little confused at first, but then realized that if we stay moving then maybe, just maybe, the baby would come out of mommy's tummy...when we got home they wanted to walk around the neighborhood too. I was so sore and we still had the ward adult party to attend.

We went to the ward party (Jake was kicking and screaming-it's so not his thing), which was a 70's/80's theme. And because I was part of the program-some of us were doing a lip sync-I stressed out on how to dress up (I hadn't planned to be there really). What on earth did pregnant women wear in the 80's??? No offense, but they wore seriously ugly clothing! I went to the DI and couldn't get myself to purchase anything, it was hideous. So I just put a few pieces together of what I own, and slathered on the makeup and put accessories on (not really sure I looked the part, but I tried). It ended up being a very entertaining night, the activities committee really knows how to have fun and the ward is very good at participating!

After all the dancing and walking Saturday I was sure it would trigger something, but Sunday came and went with a few intense contractions, but not enough to "count". Jake just text me that he has people to come in and cover for him today, if needed-too bad we can't just tell a baby when to come, they really just have to come on their own!

TO DO

So after the last post I realized that I had basically just written my to-do list in a very whiney and S.O.S fashion, not so...it's amazing what writing something down will do for the mind and spirit! I woke up the next morning determined to try and get something done despite the lack of energy I've been feeling.
I managed to get the laundry done, including folded and put away! That's huge for me...there are times when the laundry just sits in a pile and we all have to just search through it to find whatever item(s) are in need...not yesterday! It felt so good to go to bed knowing I got something accomplished from start to finish! I even went all out last night and made a dinner that I've never made before and surprisingly only one child wasn't impressed.
Yeah for to-do lists and the power of accomplishment!
So, although I totally burnt myself out yesterday I know I can accomplish at least one thing on my list each day!

you're looking...

PREGNANT!!!
All I have heard the last week is how horrible/miserable I look. I thought I was doing pretty good, but my belly is shouting how heavy it is by how much it's dropped closer and closer to my knees.
I went to the midwife today and heard only the most horrible news a mother could hear (especially one that has had a few kids)...still at a 3!! haven't progressed much, except that baby has come down into position again and that I look like I've dropped. All good signs, I suppose, but seriously! the "weight" is getting to me. At this point it could be a dragon baby and I would be happy that it is out of me. I have hit that time in pregnancy where I absolutely have no energy beyond the bare, bare necessities. Even some of those are sliding by. Laundry is piled a mile high, both in what needs folded and what needs washed. The dishes finally got done tonight, but only because I just couldn't handle it a second longer. The floor needs mopped and vacuumed and the bathrooms-I won't even go there! But you know, I just don't have energy. I hate to admit that, but it's true. Is that a sign??
However, a slight selfish part of me hopes this baby decides to stay in just a little longer now that she didn't come out today. I have a fun night scheduled for Thursday that I surely don't want to miss and I have a fun night Saturday that I would been seriously sad to miss. So, I've told her she now has to wait and come anytime after 9pm Saturday (she just has to give me enough notice to make it 20 minutes to the hospital). With all the contractions I've been having for the past two weeks, I just hope we can get things done quickly when the time arrives :) No more jokes from this kiddo, please.
Bryant came home today hoping with all his heart that I was at the hospital, he was disappointed for a few minutes and then has just kept saying that she can come any day. He's been a good helper knowing I can't do as much right now. The kids are so excited they have started to pray that the baby come out "tomorrow". They are too excited and Lydia can't help but join in the excitement, although she has no idea, nor will she like it. So, here's to "tomorrow"!!