Baby Ansley

Ansley Lynn was born on November 4th. Weighing a whopping 9 lbs. 5 oz. making her, by far, the biggest baby I have had. I had heard from a few birdies that it was announced at church that she was 28 inches long. Ha! Wouldn't that be a sight to see? :) She really was only 20 1/2 inches long. So all who may have thought she just might be a freak of nature, from what they heard over the pulpit, rest assured she is normal. :) I think I will be getting a good chuckle out of that for awhile yet.

She had a hard time breathing a little, so she was a bit purple and had to have a little oxygen.

It was a long and hard labor. 10 hours. It was a longer labor than my previous 3 kid's labors. I was 3 cm. when I went in for my check up that Monday and when I went in on Friday, to be induced, I was 4 cm. dilated and having contractions that were sporadic in their times. So my body was trying to go into labor on its own, but her being sunny side up made it difficult. Sunny side up is pretty painful. I felt it all in my back! I am so glad she decided to eventually turn.

We didn't realize that she was in there kind of funny until I got stuck at 7 cm. for 3 1/2 hrs. I was having contractions that felt like transition, but I wasn't dilating at all. It was hard to stay focused and get through it all.  I was determined NOT to get an epidural and NOT to get a C-section unless I absolutely had to, but I wanted to continue the fight.

I have to admit that those contractions were beating me and I was having a hard time hanging on. So I did get some Nubain to help me relax more and we did numb around the uterus...those shots were NOT fun either, but helped when it was time to push. By that point I was so ready to be done.
The doctor said that it'll be a turn and burn when she would finally decide to cooperate. He was right because, after a LOT of squatting and other laboring positions and much help from my friend/doula, Wendy, and my husband we were able to get her to turn somehow and she was out in about 15 minutes. If only she could have done that earlier, like before noon. :) We all thought (us, nurses and doctor) that she would be out by noon no problem. Teach me to ever have an idea of what things might be and bank on the "more kids you have the earlier and faster the labors" mentality (though true for a lot of  OTHER people).

My sister-in-law Christy was able to be there as well as Alyssa and Bria. Towards the end it was hard for Bria to see me in pain so she went out with Aunt Christy, but Alyssa stayed and loved every minute. She was so intrigued and as soon as Ansley was coming out she said "Woah! Mom you are doing GREAT!" After it was all done Lys teary eyed and by my bedside said that she felt the spirit and how special having babies was and was grateful to have been able to watch Ansley being born.


I was sad that Christy had to go out, but am grateful that she loves my kids so much and was sensitive to what Bria needed since I was sort of out of commission at that moment.
Later, after Bria came back in the room all calm, she said "I guess all that pain was worth it because you have such a  beautiful baby now." She also got teary eyed when telling me that it was hard to see me hurting because I am her mom and she really loves me, but that she is glad I did have Ansley and knows it is worth it.


Needless to say they are smitten with her. All the kids adore her. Even little Laney-bug, but she isn't happy with me. I can't give her all the attention I used to and she is testing the waters quite a bit with me. Hopefully it won't last too long, but at least she is okay with the baby. That is really what matters in the end.




Now little Ansley is one week old and such a sweet baby. She is most definitely a keeper!

Even Misha thinks so too!

Waiting for my little cowgirl!!!

I am still waiting....waiting....aaaaaaaaannnnnddd waiting!

I think I jinxed myself when I found out I was pregnant, I decided that I would TRY to go into labor on my OWN (I was induced with the last 3...2 of them because I was having hip complications)! And since this is baby #5 I thought "It won't take me long..."! Now I am eating my words. ;) I am now 5 days overdue....and feeling it, but I can't be pregnant forever...at least one hopes she isn't the first in history for such a feat that I am sure would NOT be envied! :)

So now I wait and if this baby doesn't come soon I will be induced next Tuesday...YAY! So, c'mon baby!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Love and Joy

Picture taken by Karen B.

Today I heard something that reminded me of the sound of a baby's heart beat and the rhythm of that sound calmed me. It brought to life the excitement of having yet another baby. Bringing another beautiful, unique daughter of God to earth and having my heart expand several more inches with love for a creature that was dear to me the minute I knew she was there!

I am more excited and ready as ever! I look forward to being the first to kiss her tiny cheeks, to count her fingers and toes, to hold her against me, to shed the first tear of joy as she is laid on my belly.

I look forward to going through this again with the man who is and always will be my best friend. I love watching him tear up as his new baby is lifted up to see and as he holds them all bundled up against his chest looking into their precious little faces. He is a GREAT Dad! I have been blessed to have found such a man!

So, the fears and nervousness I had experienced earlier have been replaced with the memory of the love and joy I have gained for each of my beautiful children and the hope and knowledge it will be done again! I love being a mother and never thought I could love this job as much as I do. There is nothing else that is more important or fulfilling as being a mother and wife.

Picture taken by Kim G. (A Green Field Photography)

Update and one Pay It Forward Gift done!

Well I had another doctor's visit today and I am 2 cm. dilated and I am SO excited (even thought I was a 3 with Heath by this point and a 4 with Bria, but who's comparing ;))! Of course I KNOW that doesn't mean I am going to go into labor anytime soon (one could only wish especially since my due date is on Saturday), but it sure is nice to know that my body is doing something! :) I hope that I can have this little munchkin soon, but for some reason my body seems to like holding onto the babies for a bit longer than some! I just have to keep remembering progress is happening and I can't be pregnant forever (at least I hope I am not the first in history to do
this! ;)

I have been busy finishing my to do list. It's nice to get things done, but with Tyson in school I think I am stressing myself out because I see all the things I would like to be doing and can't because I am MAJORLY slowing down and then I see the things I can actually do and with kids they are undone in 5 minutes...Grrr! So, poor Tys has had to pick up more slack while I take it easy more often.

On another note, I am going to leave you with pics of one of the Pay It Forward gifts I did and gave away! This is a family planner/scrapbook journal! I made one for myself and LOVED it and decided that would be one of the things I did for one of my pay it forward gals! 2 more gifts to go and then I am all paid up! :) Keep checking back to see what they are!

The black one is the one I gave away!

Below are images from the one I had made for myself!

High Hopes and a B-day Party

I have started my weekly doctor visits. Today I went in with high hopes that my enduring a couple of months of on and off again Braxton Hicks Contractions, would prove to be of great worth like being dilated to maybe a 2 (yes high hopes)! But NOTHING! The cervix is thick and TIGHT as a drum! Grrr! You would think that baby #5 would show some progress early on. I was a 2 by this point with the last 2! Oh well. I guess I still have a little over 2 weeks so it shouldn't be a big surprise, but you sure feel a bit more triumphant when you start to dilate as well as knowing (during your last few weeks of uncomfortableness) it really can't be much longer! :)

Last night we had family over for a small b-day party for Heath. He seemed to really enjoy himself and LOVED his gifts, especially the one I found that totally had his name written all over it. I would've tried it myself if I didn't have a huge preggos belly! :) All the kids got a turn. Of course when you are having fun there is always one that gets hurt. One of my nieces got into a wrestling match with our landscape rocks and lost. Her arm ended up getting scraped and probably a little bruised. I am glad it wasn't worse.

Later on in the evening Heath saw my sister rocking X, my nephew who is a few months old, and Heath said "Is THAT my Laney!?!" In his defense he hadn't seen his face by this point. Of course he said that because I have been telling him that she will come after his b-day...should've waited and said after Bria's as to not get his hopes up so much! :) At least he is excited about her!

Chad loves to pretend that he is picking his nose on pictures...10 year olds or BOYS (you pick...no pun intended)! ;)

Look at them HOGGING the cake! Men!!! hee hee!

The toy that brought much laughter and LOUDNESS!

It's All Coming Back To Me!

Tonight I watched a computer generated video of how a baby is born with my two oldest kids! I can't believe that they are old enough to know all of this now or that I am old enough to have kids old enough for this! They were curious and when they ask specific questions we feel they are ready for answers and we tell them that this is something special for parents to tell their children and they don't need to go around talking about it with anyone, but they can always talk to their family!

Both kids were quiet after watching...I was quiet! The memories of the pain came flooding back in from the dark recesses of my mind and made me NERVOUS! It's amazing how after each kid you may remember, but it doesn't fully hit you until you either are there or close enough to think about it! Of course I remembered with Alyssa as soon as I walked into the hospital to be induced and was so nervous that when the lady at the desk asked for my SSN I went COMPLETELY blank! Good thing my husband was there and makes great effort to memorize all of our SSN! We all at least go a good laugh out of it! :)

After the video Alyssa said "It does look painful." I asked, "Does it scare you?" and she said "Well it's what you go through to have babies and I want babies." Such a brave kid.

Bria on the other hand has a few more years until we expose her to any of this knowledge. The only thing she does know is that it is painful, but worth it. Of course pain does not equal worth in her mind so she has decided to never get married cause she doesn't want babies. So, I figured I would give her some time to let her mind change and there has been some softening cause she is now talking about who she will marry one day! B from church!

Chad looked concerned and said "That must be painful!" Then he told me he loved me and didn't like the idea of me having to be in pain, but knew it was something you just have to do. We talked about the beautiful gift a baby is and that we are stronger than we think a lot of times, so I think that helped too. Over all I would say that this was a great learning and relationship building talk with Chad and Alyssa.

As for me I have 3 weeks left and am starting to get miserable, toss and turn while watching the hours on the clock go by and don't think my belly could POSSIBLY get any bigger cause it hurts kind of miserable! Enough to be ok with the pain, but I am NOT looking forward to it. I just have to keep my eye on the ball. I will be getting a beautiful baby out of all this work and my kids are all excited about this new little one too. Then I will actually be able to bend over! I will also lose about 10 preferrably 15 pounds and be happy until reality sets in and I have to go buy clothes and realize I am still several sizes bigger than I would like to be! After having Chad, while still in the hospital, I remember looking in the mirror and thinking "I am SO skinny!" Then I went home a few days later with my cocky self and tried to fit back into my High School jeans that couldn't EVEN get over my thighs! It was a traumatic tear jerker kind of experience! I never could fit back into those jeans again (my body shape was different) even after losing all my weight! :( Needless to say I have never tried to fit in my pre-pregnancy jeans again right after my babies!

6 Months

Everyone says they feel great in their 2nd trimester, but I don't start feeling great until my 3rd!!! I have kicked the morning sickness and extreme fatigue good-bye and have now hit the nesting phase! I just finished painting my boys room, going through all their toys, and rearranged their furniture. Then I started re-painting my foyer with my good friend, Karen....I owe her a life debt for that! It is soooo much better than the orange my painter messed up with (that'll be another post in itsself)! I still have a huge list of things to do, but feel great and am up to the task!

My belly has finally passed up the boobs! It sticks out about 1/4 of an inch more, so I am counting down to the final days of being able to see my feet! I am already having complications bending over without turning red faced in the process. My kids say "Wow! The baby is getting BIG!" So there you go folks, from the mouth of babes there is truth! I am getting BIG!

Only about 13 weeks left! YAY! We have FINALLY decided...ok I have to say the truth behind it all, my hubby has FINALLY decided that he is ok with the name the kids and I LOVE for this little gal! It will be Elayna Margaret and we will call her Laney. It's so cute to hear all the kids say her name as they talk about her and pat my ever growing belly. Heath says it with a "W" instead of an "L"...it's so cute!

The problem we are having is figuring out how to spell L-a-n-e-y. My husband likes the way I have just spelled it and I like L-a-y-n-e-y because it goes more with the spelling of her actual name, but I want to see what most people think when they look at the spellings, so go let your voice be heard on our little poll on the top right of the page!

Little One at 5 months

I think we have had enough (5 to be exact) ultrasounds that have proven we are not having an alligator!

I am soooo sure that if you could see her with skin, she'd be so pretty! But seeing as we can't do that imagine (as I try to), a mix of Alyssa and Bria...dark hair with green eyes...blonde with brown, hmmmm what do you think the next combination will be?

Her little face all exposed finally, after a little bit of playing peek-a-boo behind her hands

Every time I come home with more pictures the girls talk about how cute her ever so small rear is, point to ears that even I can't see and Heath laughs when I tell him she kicked me a lot. He says "ha ha...she kicks mommy hard! It fuuuunnnnny!" Then Chad says "yeah, she's cute" and moves on to what he was doing! :)

Here she has her feet crossed over

During these ultra sounds I have been a little weary by her major movement, ok let me rephrase, weary that she reminds me a lot of two little stinkers that have given me a run for my money. Hmmmm, who could that be? Let's see...does Bria and Heath come to mind? :) Good thing they turned out cute!

She rolled her back to us and unwillingly showed her parts to let us see for sure what kind of tie breaker she'd be! A dear friend went with me for this last one because Tys couldn't make it due to no time off with his schooling, but we had fun and enjoyed watching miss little bit move around!

Guess Who....

...is in the womb! Only a few days left to vote before we find out if my womb is rented out to a boy or a girl! Go ahead and vote if you haven't already.

3 Months

Morning Sickness is almost gone!!!

baby bump showing

The kids say the baby is getting much BIGGER! Wonder what they'll say when I am 9 months!?!

Grrrr, Grrrr and Aaawwww!

I went to the doctor today and they moved my due date up...only 2 DAYS!!! Grrrr...I am due April 11th. Bri is hoping he/or she will make a grand entrance on her b-day which is the 15th, but I tell her that if she wants a happy mommy she'll want this baby to come well before that! :)

This made the whole having to endure morning sickness, for another 4-6 weeks because the doc doesn't want to put me on meds because I have gained 1 pound in the past month, so at least I am not dehydrated and I will survive, look so trivial in comparison (it melted my heart to see the heart beating and the hand waving)! :) I tried several things to help alleviate the morning sickness, but to no avail, my body is stubborn.

The kids saw this picture and were so happy and saying how they can see the ears and love seeing the cute baby rump! ha ha! They crack me up (no pun intended)!