Meeting Thomas Treat

We have another son!  His name is Thomas Treat and he is perfect.  This is his story.

On Thursday, June 29, my mom offered to take my kids overnight.  Usually, I turned down these offers, but I thought the alone time would be good for rest, personal time, and one last date with Anson, as my due date was the very next day.  I spent the hours cleaning, hanging curtains, and relaxing.  Unfortunately, my anxiety about birth began to pick up, even plaguing me during my movie date with Anson.

I slept in on Friday, but woke up very nervous and emotional.  I tried to keep busy, but nothing was distracting enough.  Then, out of nowhere, I was prompted to go to the temple.  I ran the last of my errands and followed that little nudge.  During my time in the temple, I had a good, long cry and a spiritual experience that wiped away all of my worry and doubt.

The rest of my day was spent washing baby clothes, packing my birth bag, and installing the car seat.  (Yes, I procrastinated until my due date!)  By the time my parents dropped off the kids, I was feeling much more calm and prepared.  Anson tried to get me to go out to eat with my parents, but I had a strong need to be home, in my safe place.

I woke up Saturday morning to find a small amount of mucus and bloody show.  Historically, this sign meant that I would go into labor within 24 hours, so I alerted my mom and started to wonder when things would happen.  I decided to grab some donuts for the family, but was surprised when I only managed to eat one - my appetite had disappeared!

Clara and I grabbed smoothies and met up with my friend, Jenna, for pedicures.  We had fun and Jenna kept my mind occupied with non-birth topics for a few hours.  Back at home, I wondered what to do with myself.  I was still having bloody show, but not a single contraction and no nausea.  I decided to take a nap.

Around 4:00 pm, I woke up and moved to the couch, to lay by Anson and watch a movie.  I thought I felt a contraction, but it didn't hurt at all.  Plus, I had never gone into labor during the daytime before.  I tried to check myself a few times, but everything felt different.  Either I wasn't dilated at all OR I was dilated a few centimeters, but my cervix was still tipped back.  What did it mean?

Anson picked up a pizza and I only managed two bites.  I was still laying on the couch, wondering about the potential contractions I was having.  They still didn't hurt, they were 6+ minutes apart, and I had never been able to lay down during labor before.  What was going on?

The kids joined us on the couch and we put on Moana.  I was still feeling totally normal, but Anson insisted on having my parents drive to our house.  Soon after they arrived, around 9:30 pm, I started walking through contractions, mostly trying to test if they hurt and if they would get closer together.  I felt a small amount of pain, but was still able to talk normally during the waves.

I called the midwife, Maribeth, and she suggested I come in, as my main worry about birth had been arriving too late in the process.  I told her I'd think about it and call her back.  After another half hour, contractions were slightly closer together, about 4.5 minutes, but still mild.  I decided we'd go to the birth center, just to get checked, as I was really confused about what was going on.  Anson took a shower, I changed my clothes, and my dad and Anson gave me a blessing.  The kids were in bed, but not asleep, so we said goodnight and left them with Mimi.

The drive over wasn't painful like it had been in the past.  We arrived to the birth center around 10:30 pm and I was happy to see Maribeth was already inside, waiting for me.  Mom and Dad pulled in right behind us.  It was strange being there and being of sound mind, so unlike the other times.  Maribeth checked my vitals and listened to the baby.  She wasn't going to check my progress, but I insisted.  I was 8-9 cms!!!  That totally shocked me, because I didn't feel transition (shakes, sweating) like I did with my others. After that, I thought, "What do I do now?!" Apparently, even though I was almost complete, the baby was "floating" and my cervix wasn't fully pointing down, so Maribeth suggested I try different positions to encourage baby to engage.

Anson and I were left alone in the room. He put on music and I was taking contractions in silly positions. It was actually fun! Maribeth suggested that Anson and I lift my belly during a few contractions and that really helped/hurt. This was finally the point where contractions got painful and uncomfortable. I decided to get in the tub, which felt great, but was also scary, as I knew the hard work would be happening there. I think I got in around 11:45 pm. Anson, Maribeth, and Jenna (my friend and nurse) were all wondering if the baby would be born July 1st or 2nd. I had guessed for the past few weeks that it would be July 2nd (making bang 2 days late, as my others had been 4, 1, and 3 days late).

Everyone left the room again, except Anson and I, so I started doing purposeful, grunty pushes to get baby to drop. At first, the baby was high, but with each contraction the baby moved lower. Eventually, I could even feel the water start to bulge, which was super exciting! I knew once it broke, it would only be minutes until birth.

Only 1-2 contractions later and my water began to bulge out of my body.  I ran my finger over it and felt it pop.  I told Anson to get the midwife!  Maribeth and Jenna quickly came into the room and Jenna listened to the baby.  My mom came in, too.  Maribeth asked if I felt baby boy or baby girl hair, and it was at that moment that I realized that the head was almost crowning!  At that point, I tried my best to keep the baby from moving back.  One or two more contractions and I felt the head start to crown!

I wanted to hold back and take things slow, but as I knelt there, trying to decide, the pressure and stretching became too intense to pull back from.  It felt like I was about to rip in half, but only a few seconds later, the baby's head was born.  Maribeth was very relaxed and told me it was fine to wait for the next contraction.  I kept my hands on the baby's head to keep it still.  I could feel the baby's eyelids and was even able to look down and see the head through the clear water.  Crazy!

A contraction started, but the shoulders gave resistance.  Maribeth helped me point the head down and after one painful moment, the baby was born!  (12:15 am)  I lifted the baby to my chest and sat back.  He screeched the loudest shriek I've ever heard!  I saw and announced that it was a boy, which totally shocked me! I felt so happy and in such great spirits.  I put my legs up on the side of the tub and asked someone to bring my dad into the room.  He looked pretty impressed!  I love those first few moments after birth.

It was time for the placenta, so Dad left the room.  All of my past midwives made me get out of the tub to deliver the placenta, by Maribeth let my choose.  I didn't really care and apparently it was almost there anyway, so out it came.  The clear water slowly turned pink while my placenta, still attached to my baby boy, floated nearby.  It was kind of weird, but also amazing!

I eventually made my way to the bed, baby and I were checked, and the evil afterpains began. Thomas weighed 7 lbs 11.5 oz and was 19.5" long. He nursed for the first time while I ate four of the best tasting freezer waffles ever! Then, before we took a nap, we FaceTimed Anson's parents in Japan.  Of course, I was too excited to sleep (like every other birth!), so I stared at my baby as my heart bursted with gratitude for such an amazing experience and a perfect baby.

It's 3 months later and I still can't believe what a wonderful birth I was given. We are so blessed!

Clara's Birth Story
Steven's Birth Story
Robert's Birth Story

Robert's Birth Story

This is the birth story of Robert Wallace, my second son.  He was born on April 15, 2015 at 8:05 a.m.  He was 20.5 inches long and 7 lbs. 12 oz., our heaviest baby yet.  

I was nervous to give birth again, unmedicated, so I halfway convinced myself that I’d be pregnant forever.  Due to months of awful Braxton Hicks contractions, I worried that I wouldn’t know when labor was starting.

Early Tuesday morning, I was awoken by what I thought were contractions, but I quickly fell back to sleep.  I was going to be pregnant forever, remember?  I had my 40 week appointment a few hours later.  It was the first appointment I’d attended without Clara and Seven in tow, thanks to the kindness of a ward member.  It was nice to have a real conversation with the midwife.  Thankfully, all was well with baby and me.  I had to set up my 41 week appointments, including extra monitoring for being overdue.  For the first time, I thought it might be a good idea for the baby to make their entrance.

Around 4:30 that afternoon, I had another clue that labor was approaching: bloody show.  I informed my mom, but had to convince her to stay in Globe – I didn’t want the pressure to perform.  I decided to go teach ballet, which Anson thought was insane.  I was just happy to have a distraction!  When I walked into the studio, everyone was shocked to see me.  Apparently there had been a rumor started the day before that my baby had been born!  I was amused, but sorry to disappoint.  The rest of the night went normally.  Anson finished building the cosleeper, my brother-in-law came over to give me a blessing, and I went to bed early, all just in case I went into labor that night.

Sometime after midnight, I lost the battle of sleeping through possible contractions.  It was almost unbelievable that contractions could be so strong, yet still 15-20 minutes apart.  I tried to stay in bed, to rest, but I soon found myself jumping to my feet as a wave would start, eager to walk through the pain.  I was definitely confused; it couldn’t be labor!

At 3:03 a.m., I decided to time the pains.  I thought I could prove that I was being a huge wimp.  The pains were 10-12 minutes apart, plus the occasional 6-8 apart.  No way it could be real labor, right?

Finally, at 4:20 a.m., I decided to experiment.  What would happen if I didn’t get back in bed?  Would labor pick up or die out?  When the next five contractions were 4-6 minutes apart, I was shocked.  How did that happen?!  I decided to call my mom.  I reluctantly updated her on my situation and told her we could just “hang out” if nothing happened.  That was at 4:45 a.m.  Half an hour later, I was on the phone with Amy, the midwife.  She said we should meet at the birth center around 6:15-6:30 a.m.  At that point, I was still unconvinced that I was in labor, but part of me hoped that 6:30 wouldn’t be too late.

My mother-in-law soon arrived to watch the kids.  By that time, contractions were 3-4 minutes apart, and I could tell that my mother-in-law was worried.  I started to worry, too, and headed towards the car, knowing full well that we would beat the midwife, but feeling a very strong desire to be at the birth center, regardless. 

During the car ride, I focused on counting all of my body parts during contractions.  When we arrived, I exited the car and noticed my feet were soaked with sweat.  I also started shivering and my teeth were chattering.  It was about this time that I finally started to believe that I might really be in labor.  Anson took over the contraction timer, while I paced the parking lot, with a towel draped over my shoulders.  The 20 minutes it took for Amy to arrive seemed like an eternity.  I felt vulnerable and unable to progress.  I suddenly realized that my mom probably wouldn’t make it in time for the birth.

I was feeling a lot of downward pressure during contractions outside the birth center.  I both wanted to keep my legs together to stop progress and open them up by a foot it get it over with.  Once inside, Amy checked me and said I was almost at the end of transition (translation from the future: 9cm).  The tub was filling SO SLOWLY, so I walked in circles, pants-less, with my eyes closed, desperately willing it to be full.

FINALLY!  I was able to enter the tub and it was a huge relief, both mentally and physically.  Then, things got weird.  My contractions spaced out and got much less intense.  My mom showed up (yay!), so I thought maybe things would pick up.  Nope.  I was very present and alert at this time.  I began questioning Amy about what was taking so long.  She said my waters were still intact and “helping” the baby to descend slowly.  OH HECK NO!  I started to get very impatient.  The only thought in my head was that I needed to break my own water, to get the baby out.

That strange period lasted for 1-1.5 hours.  Contractions spaced out and lessened in intensity.  I was just kneeling in the tub, waiting for something to happen.  I was so annoyed with everything, especially when people tried to remind me of my birth plan (“let my body push, don’t interfere”) and how I believed in “natural”. I’ll admit that I did try to break my own water, every time I thought someone wouldn’t notice!  (For this online birth story, I’ll leave out the details of that endeavor!) Time dragged on, my feet fell asleep, I tried different positions, I did a lot of complaining, but nothing happened.

And then, all on its own, IT BROKE!  I was so happy and announced it proudly.  Yay!  (7:57 a.m.)  The downward pressure immediately increased.  The contractions intensified and quickened.  I gave small pushes during the surges to help baby drop.  With each inhale and exhale I would tilt my head from right to left.  Suddenly, I felt the head bulging and almost crowning.  My left hand quickly and instinctively dove down to lend support.  The midwife and nurse heard the splash of my hand and rushed into the room.

With each inhale, I imagined lava and fire, but with each exhale, I imagined blowing snow onto the painful burn, extinguishing it.  The first crowning push (8:03 a.m.) didn’t seem to stretch me enough, so I tried to hold back.  It was extremely painful, much more than I remember with Steven, so I found it difficult to control myself.  As much as it hurt to do so, I tried my best to keep the head crowning until the next contraction.  Then, in the next surge or two, the head finally emerged.  What an amazing relief!! The midwife instructed me to grab the head and I vividly remember feeling a tiny ear with my left hand.  It was magical!  I asked Amy if I could wait for another contraction to birth the shoulders.  She was hesitant and asked for “grunty pushes” while she checked the neck for a cord.  Amy then told me to lean a different direction (very hard to do!) and to push.  Then – I pushed!  My baby was born and lifted out of the water, onto my chest, at 8:05 a.m. 

The baby was silent at first, but I saw his eyes moving.  For a split second, I thought (and asked aloud) that something might be wrong.  While Amy rubbed his back, he let out his first cry.  Hallelujah!  I peeked between baby’s legs and then subtly showed Anson.  Another boy!  I knew it!

Everything from that moment on went smoothly.  Only the after-pains gave me any bother.  Robert was a perfect blessing.  Breastfeeding was amazing (well, at least until my milk came in!).  I escaped without any injuries.  Anson and I were able to take a nap while my mom and Mimi loved on the new baby.  The day was wonderful, magical, and sacred in every way. 

Usually, the birth story would end there, but I have to add this gem:

On the way home from the birth center, a few hours later, Anson drove me through a cute neighborhood.  In actuality, he was checking up on a job site!  His brother walked up to the truck and said, surprised, “Oh my heck!  Is that your wife in there?”  We all laughed.  I’m not sure how many husbands take their wives and hours-old babies to work with them!  I don’t think I’ll ever let Anson live that story down. 

A Few More From Christmas

Clara and Steven are lucky little people, because they also get to celebrate Christmas with Grandma and Great-Grandma!  Sadly, by the time we arrived at my family's, Clara was really feeling ill.  I did, however, manage to get a few photos, so here they are!

Oh, how I love these two children of mine.  Clara was her spunk, love of words, and friendliness.  Steven with his sweet smile and laugh, his desire to climb and scale every object in a room.  They sure did make Christmas wonderful this year.  I have a feeling next year will (somehow, though it seems unbelievable!) be even better.

Christmas 2013

This has been the best December that I can ever remember.  I'm sure it was this good or better when I was a kid, but my memory is too poor to recall.  The magic and excitement were always present this year.  Having Clara around, seeing Santa, reading a new Christmas book every night, singing Christmas songs multiple times a day, the holiday parties, Baby Jesus... it all amplified the Christmas Spirit and helped me see things from her sweet perspective.

We spent Christmas Eve Eve (not a typo) through Christmas Day with Anson's family.  It was my first White Christmas and I loved it!  I really liked being trapped in the cabin with carloads of kids and most of my inlaws, believe it or not.  (Really!)  Everything was simple, just the way I like it.  Unfortunately, my kids (and a few others) were sick the entire time.  Steven woke up multiple times the first night, refusing to nurse, and only agreeing to fall asleep if I was sitting upright with his head on my chest.  I was tired, but thanks to Clara, I can now run on very little sleep.  ;)  My sweet Clara is a trooper and didn't throw any fits or act like a brat, but she had puffy eyes and had to lay down every time her ibuprofen wore off.  It made me sad to see her like that, especially on Christmas, the day she has been so excited for all month!!  :(

Without further ado, here are the photos from the first part of Christmas:

^^First, we cut down the Christmas tree^^

^^Clara and I built a snowman.  She has been so obsessed with snowmans lately, that we even heard her singing Frost the Snowman in her sleep!^^

^^Clara insisted on being an angel in the live nativity.  She sang Joy to the World at the top of her lungs, even though she didn't know any of the words.^^

^^Christmas morning was wonderful.  The gift giving was short and simple, which encouraged a lot of excitement about what everyone was getting, and also provided lots of time to express gratitude.^^

Part of me wishes that Christmas could last all year, but deep down I know that waiting for each year makes it that much more special.  Still, I'm trying to leave my Christmas tree up as long as possible, even though it's dead!

First Day of Dance

This little girl is killing me.  Though it hurts a little bit to realize she's growing up, I can't deny that being her mom just keeps getting better and better.

Her first dance class is something I've been waiting for forever.  Okay, let's be real.  I've been waiting for this moment before she even existed, probably before I was even married.  Ha!  And let me tell you, it did not disappoint!  Little buns in a leotard are about the cutest things on Earth.  And watching her hop like a bunny while wearing a crown and holding a wand?  Yes.

Here are some photos from her first day at dance.  She is wearing mommy's first leotard.  :)

Keep dancing, baby girl!!  (Or playing soccer or singing or whatever it is you love!)

BBQ, Cake, Presents, and Grandparents

We had both sets of grandparents and both Mimis get together with us at our favorite BBQ place for Clara's birthday.  (Yum, pulled pork!)  

There are some moments that a mother will never forget.  The look on Clara's face as we sang, "Happy Birthday" to her is something I will always cherish.  I have never seen her look happier.  She knew she was in the spotlight at that moment and that she was/is so very loved.  I hope she knows that every day for the rest of her life.

Clara got the bulk of her presents that night.  She received books, art supplies (and an easel from us!), clothing and, her favorite gift ever (!), a pirate spyglass.

Seriously, you could not pry that spyglass out of her hands for a week after the party!

A big thank you and hugs to our wonderful family for being so good to Miss Clara.  We love you all!

Clara's Pirate Party

My little lady turned two last month.  I'm not ready for this growing up business.  In the grand scheme of things, we are little kids for such a short time.  That is really unfair to mothers, if you ask me!  I'm trying my very hardest to soak up every moment and store all of these sweet memories, but life never slows down and my brain sure has a difficult time keeping up.  I am so happy, and beyond grateful, that I get to spend every day with my sweet, funny, smart, sassy, crazy-haired girl.

Well, that's enough sappy stuff from me!  The pictures aren't the best, but here is the little pirate party that I threw for Clara and her gaggle of cute cousins.

The food was all pirate-themed:  Crab croissants, pb&j skulls, goldfish crackers, pirate jewels (fruit salad), pirate booty, swedish fish, fresh water, and sea water (blue punch).  The kids got to pick and frost their favorite cupcake.

I made all of the kids hats out of newspaper and painted them black.  I also made paper bag pinatas to look like Captain Hook and Jake from the Neverland Pirates.

^^Photobomb!^^

It was a great little party.  I still can't believe that my baby is two...