Abby- A baby story

When I was in college I remember TLC having a show called "A Baby Story."  I used to watch these episodes while I was house sitting or somewhere that had cable. I enjoyed watching the different stories that people had and the different ways they approached birth. I have enjoyed hearing other's birth stories since this time, and I am still addicted to TV shows where they talk about birth.  So this is our story, well Abby's story. 

Abby is our 2.5 year project, and there were moments where I was pretty sure that she wasn't ever going to get here. After a little over a year of trying to get pregnant then suffering two miscarriages last year it was a long road. When we found out we were pregnant again I was scared, I spent a few months on IVs to keep me hydrated then non stress tests (NSTs) the last month and change because I had developed gestational diabetes. So it was a rather eventful pregnancy, to say the least. 

While I was pregnant with Matty I started visiting Salt Lake Prenatal Massage, I never stopped visiting and developed a friendship with the owner, Rebecca Overson. Rebecca, besides being a fabulous masseuse, is also a doula.  After many talks with her I decided that I want to have a drug free birth with Rebecca by our side as a doula. She was a great added resource while we were pregnant and I was able to always get a different perspective on procedures and labor techniques. 

I had planned to labor as long as I could at home. Since I had been induced with Matty I really wanted to start labor spontaneously, and move to the hospital when it was about time to deliver. I had planned this my entire pregnancy, I envisioned it, it was what I wanted. Funny thing about that, it doesn't always happen. About a month before Abby was born my fabulous OB, Dr. Jones,  started suggesting we might want to look into induction at about 39 weeks, since I had gestational diabetes. Dr. Jones and I discussed this at length and she was okay not inducing as long as we didn't have anything else that might cause trouble. Well, we Bradley's are all a stubborn lot and seem to have minds of our own, this apparently starts while in the womb.  During my NSTs Abby kept flipping around. For the first few weeks that wasn't much of a problem, she had plenty of time to get head down and ready for delivery, unfortunately she didn't stay that way. Three weeks before her due date she went from head down, to transverse, to feet down, back to head down in a 48 hour period. With as much as this girl was moving Dr. Jones decided that she wanted to induce at 38 weeks, so we could catch the baby head down and could avoid a C-section. 

I was not happy about this decision, I wasn't sure what to do and called Rebecca to get her advice. Armed with advice from my doctor and doula, Christian and I talked out our options and went to the Lord, through prayer, for guidance. The night before I had to make my decision I was up late, trying to figure out what to do. As I laid in my bed the following words came into my mind, "Trust Dr. Jones, Have faith in Rebecca, and know that I am God." After that I had no further anxiety or doubt. I knew that we were being induced on July 7th, I was just grateful it was not on Matty's birthday. 

So we got up early on July 7th and made our way to Alta View Hospital. Just a little plug for Alta View here, we loved it. The nursing staff was great, the support staff was great, everything was just fabulous. It took about an hour and two nurses and an anesthesiologist to get an IV in me. I wish I had taken pictures of my arms after, they were bruised for about three weeks. The doctor broke my water, they started the meds and we were off. Rebecca came and for the first many hours of labor I was enjoying a lovely foot massage and a head massage. Really, having a doula is super awesome. 

The one problem with being induced was the nursing staff was hesitant to let me get out of bed and move around. I was able to get on a birthing ball at one point, and then they finally let me stand up around one. Christian made jokes about twerking the baby out, but the standing and walking around the room is what did the trick. After about an hour of that I was wanted to lay down and, that is when things kicked into high gear. 

Me hanging out on the birthing ball. 

I don't remember much of those couple hours. I remember I moaned- a lot. I remember Rebecca moaning with me. I remember begging for drugs at one point. I apparently hit Christian, I don't remember that. I remember being mad at the nurse that they wouldn't let me out of the bed. And I was hot. Really hot. Rebecca and Christian kept putting ice water drenched towels on me to cool me down. At one point I remember them telling me Dr. Jones was on her way down and all of a sudden the room was full of people. Next thing I knew it was time push, and I remember being so tired that seemed like it would be impossible. However, with Christian and Rebecca, and Dr Jones I found the strength to do it. Twenty minutes later we finally got a glimpse of the baby that had caused us so much grief for nine months and she was beautiful. She was also tiny, 6 lbs 13 oz much smaller than the doctor, thought she would be. 

A little cleaned up and ready to meet the world. 

When we found out we were having a girl we started talking names. We had about six or seven options walking into the hospital each of us having a different top choice. As soon as I saw her I knew her name was Abigail, there was no question whatsoever about that. I just hoped Christian thought the same thing. After things calmed down and it was just us, Rebecca, and the nurses Christian and I discussed the name. I was so happy that Christian also thought that Abigail was her name, not sure what we would have done if we disagreed. Christian then got to pick her middle name, Rebekah and like that the being we had been calling Baby Bellatrix or Baby Girl for the past months had a name. 

She already has Daddy wrapped around her little finger. 

I was happy that at this point they gave me and Ibuprofen, thank heavens for drugs, and then moved me to my new room. I have to say going drug free made for an easier recovery for me. It was nice to be able to get up and move around. It was also nice to have her in the late afternoon so I got some actual recovery time in.

Soon after she was born, the visitors started. Everyone was very excited to meet Abby, there was one special visitor though that wasn't there. Big sister Laine was up at Brighton Girl's Camp so she had to wait four whole days before she got to meet Abby.  Everyone loved her, thought that she had a ton of hair (she did) and just wanted to sit and hold her. Abby really was and continues to be a rather mellow baby. It was just nice, and she has been a rather good sleeper from the get go, and a great eater-yay!!!!

Matty has a bit of Mom time

Abby and Grandma- grandchild #20

Big brother Matt. It is his new favorite title

Grammy and Poppa- grandchild #11

These two are awesome big siblings. Eve is just great at calming her down and James just wants to be with her all the time 

We spent two days at the hospital, mainly because it was quiet and nice just to be able to rest and not worry about everything that comes with being at home. It was fun just to be with our little girl and enjoy her snuggles and love. The kids came and visited again, as did all of her grandparents. Then like that it was time time go home.

Ready to go 

She was met to a fun welcome home sign and 3 of her 4 siblings. 

So welcome Abby, this world is a crazy place but we are happy you're here with us.

Freezing time

One bit of advice that everyone always seems to want to pass on to parents is "Enjoy it because you are going to miss this one day." I have to admit whenever that advice has been given to me my response ranges from a polite smile, an eye roll, or thoughts of maiming. While you are in the trenches day to day it is difficult to understand how you will ever miss the fighting, hitting, sleepless nights, poopy diapers, vomit covered sheets and carpets, struggles to get kids to just try a bit of dinner you spent an hour preparing, running the carpool to this place or that, cleaning crayon off the wall or the fridge or the dishwasher, full tantrums in public places, working on homework projects you found out about the day before it was due, riding It's a Small World over and over and over again...the list could go on and on. Who in their right mind would miss any of this. 

Then one day you look out the kitchen window and see the four kids working together to plant raspberry and blackberry bushes and for a brief moment in time you long to simply freeze this moment. Keep them happy and carefree for just a bit longer. Enjoy them running around the house chasing each other with giggles of delight. Enjoy waking up to four kids jumping in your bed screaming "it's Christmas, it's Christmas!" Having a two year old throw his little arms around you and saying "I love you momma." And I realize that in this moment that "they" are right. One day I am going to miss "this" and I will look at a mother in the grocery store struggling with her four kids and think to myself, "enjoy it because you are going to miss this one day."

Oh and for the record I will never miss the poopy diapers or the vomit covered anything.

Kindergarten mom

Dear Mother of the Year Award Selection Committee,

I have not yet received my notification that you have selected me to represent your fine committee. I wonder if that is because you have not had the chance to look review my past submissions or if  so I have decided that I would try again.

My third child is currently in Kindergarten. The class of 2025, feel old yet? You might remember this boy as my budding body artist. He matured now and has passed on his love of body art to his brother. This  boy pretty cute and really smart. I would like to take credit for both of those things, but alas I cannot. I can however take credit for the fact that he generally wears clean clothes and to seeing he uses tooth paste.Oh and 90% of the time he will finish his dinner in under an hour!  

Recently this child had a school program and like all good mothers I got there fifteen minutes before the show started. Unfortunately  the great mothers got there at least twenty minutes before and we had to sit on the back row so the best shot I could get of my boy was this one. He is the one with in-between the the adults making the letter V with their bodies and that is with the good lens. If you could look closely you could tell we even made him brush his teeth- twice, you will thank me for that one. Trust me. 

Since I couldn't get pictures of my boy I did what any good mother would do. I took pictures of the other mothers. Maybe by studying them I will learn to understand this subspecies of woman called the PTA mommy.

But that is okay because when my little graduate of the class of 2025 emerged from his school program debut, forgoing the juice box and cereal treat,  he showed me that maybe I am doing something right. 

Then again, maybe I can't take all the credit.

Having fun in the kitchen

We have been working a lot in the kitchen lately. The kids have been having  a riot helping make some fun dinners and delicious treats. 

We've made home made noodles and tortellinis for Sunday dinner...they were delicious. 

I have also been making the kids homemade bread. I have loved trying out new recipes and the kids have loved having "good" bread around the house. 

We have nine tomato plants that have been producing like mad. To make good use of them we decided to make marinara sauce. So far we have canned six quarts and that was after using the sauce on pizza and our homemade noodles last weekend.

Then I have been trying out a few new cookie recipes.  We have made Rocky Road Cookies....

 And golden oreo truffles.

We have kept busy but find we really do like cooking and baking together. 

Boy's Hijinx

Each day in this house is a new adventure. There is always something going on that requires attention. Here are a few of the things that have happened this week.

Matthew pushed his diapers next to the bookshelf so he could properly see what was on the higher shelf. ..

Some of you may scoff and say that this was all simply an accident, that he did not mean to do this but to you naysayers I say poo poo. Of course my child is the smartest child that has ever lived.

Now a few of you may remember way back in January when I submitted my name to the mother of the year committee. That featured some of James' body art I now would like to share with you his new medium- pillow art:

 I actually discovered these little gems as James has found a new way to express his undying affection and support for his best friend Henry.

Yes, that is the name Henry written on the bottom of his sock three times. He had also scribbled it on his thigh.   

When we went to talk to James about the pillow art the next morning we found he had left us another surprise on the other side of the pillow

See, he is branching out in colors.  His art work will be available online in the next coming months.

Yeah, these boys sure do know how to keep me on my toes. 

Mother of the Year

Dear Mother of the Year Board,

I am submitting my application for 2012 mother of the year. Bellow is the story and photographic evidence on why I believe I deserve such an award.

On Sunday last my four year old was acting up, I know what you are thinking, "You have a four year old acting up and you think that you deserve mother of the year?" I understand and ask you to please bear with me. Finally I sent him to bed thinking he could get some good rest and we would start anew in the morning. I also thought that maybe the doppelganger that had replaced my normally sweet child would disappear during the night.

Instead in the morning I found something completely different, my four year old felt so comfortable in his own skin that he decided that the best use of a slightly early bed time would be to foster his art talent.

Did he use the wall? No.

Did he use paper? No.

Did he use a book? No.

No my ambitious child decided to branch out into a new medium- the human body:

Please note how well this is actually drawn. notice the details of the scribbles and the excellent shading.

Not only did this budding artist color use his chest, he branched out to an area of skin he could not see while he colored- his face.
Each cheek and forehead adorned with lovely green circles. What more could you ask for?

I have saved the best for last. His best work was saved for a surface he could actually see. His legs-

So dear board, I hope this application meets your standards. I have gently fostered my child's independence and creativity and lead him on a future career path as a tattoo artist.

I anxiously wait your reply.