A Birth Story

I started feeling constant contractions on Thursday, December 29 at around 3 am. They started about 7-10 minutes apart, and got closer and closer as the night went on. We went to Mom and Dad’s house for dinner, and decided to go to the hospital around 11 pm. It turned out I was only dilated to just under a 2 and 75% effaced. So I was sent home. I went through it all night and the next day, and they were getting intense enough that around 9 pm I went to the hospital again. I was only dilated to 2.5 and was 85% effaced. The nurse had me walk for two hours to see if I would progress at all. I made it to a 3, but I could only stay if I had made it to a 4. So, again I was sent home. The next day, New Years Eve, I was having really hard contractions, but they were coming every 15 to 20 minutes. That night we went to mom and dad’s to eat dinner and play games. I ended up taking 3 long baths that night in mom and dad’s big tub. Right after midnight, I was having really hard contractions every 7-10 minutes apart. They were so hard, they would bring me to tears, but I did not want to go to the hospital, just to be turned away again. Around 2 am I noticed blood, it took me about half an hour to decide I needed to go in. On our way over to the hospital my contractions stopped, or at least, completely eased up. I didn’t know if I should go home or what to do, so parked outside the hospital doors I called the nurse to see if we should come in. She said we might as well. We went in, and the nurse who checked me was looking at me like “really you again”. She checked me and gave me the great news that I had progressed to a 5 and effaced 100%, and they could finally admit me.

 Around 3 am they brought me in my room and hooked me up to an I.V.   Then the anesthesiologist came in and gave me the epidural. After that I was happy as a clam, I finally got to sleep. Around 11 am Dr. Evans came in and broke my water, and I had only progressed to a 7, so they put me on pit. I had only progressed to an 8 at 2 pm. Dr. Evans pushed the top of my stomach and could feel that Peyton was just not going into the birth canal. He explained that I was just too small, and if he was a 5 lb baby I might be able to fit him. He said I could either stay on pit for another hour to see if anything changes, or do the inevitable and get a C-section. I really did not want to get a c-section, but it seemed like that was the only way to get our little Peyton here without causing lots of damage to me and trauma to him.

They put me on more “numbing stuff” I don’t actually know what it was, and wheeled me to the surgery room. It was nice to have Blake in there holding my hand. I don’t remember much just the Doctor talking to me while he is popping out my baby. I remember thinking “should I be laughing while you are all in my stomach?” After Peyton came out everything happened so fast. Blake left to help bathe Peyton, and they ended up having to put me under to fix something. It took a little bit of time for me to wake up again, one thing I’ve learned is I am pretty loopy when I’m coming off of sleeping meds. 

Blake brought Peyton in to see me and it was the happiest moment I can remember. I just could not believe he was here and he was mine. It’s hard to explain but that half an hour of our family of three was so special.

Welcome

Baby Crafts

I made this little outfit for a baby shower gift, and it turned out so cute I had to make one for me.

This was my Halloween costume this year. I made it using an old black shirt, freezer paper, and craft paint.

 

I did not make these, I bought them at Mommy and me. I know I am going to have to go back and get a boy one for our little guy.

He's back

Last Tuesday was our 3 year anniversary. Blake had told me he was not coming home until Wednesday. So when there was a knock at the door at 11 am on Tuesday I had no idea it would be a bearded Blake.

 

We went to Idaho Falls and shopped for a bit. Got a cold stone. Came home and Blake slept for 4 hours. Then we went to dinner at the Pineapple Grill. It was nice to have him home for our anniversary and Thanksgiving. Life is so much better when you have someone to share it with.

Also. . . 

This is when Blake shaved his beard. 

Baby's room

Trial Run- Seeing color choices together.

Since Blake has been gone it's amazing how much I've been able to get done with baby stuff. 

Here's the break down:

My mom found the quilt at a garage sale for $2 - It was a light blue with bleach spots and I dyed it a more saturated blue. I decided to add the large rick rack ($6) for a little extra flare.

I used a brown corduroy for the bumper pad, ending up being $8.

Striped, pleated crib skirt. This was the jumping off point for my color choices. $12

I bought the rocking chair for $10 from a guy in my mom's ward. I decided to recover it in an off-white linen ($24). I made the striped pillow with the corduroy cording, as a pop of color for the chair.

I am almost done with the nursery. I'm still trying to figure out what I should do on the walls, and I bought fabric for drapery, just have to make it. It probably is cheaper to just buy a crib set, but it sure has been fun putting it all together.

 

Blake the trucker

Today, Blake has been gone for 3 weeks, driving in North Dakota. On Tuesday October 18 Blake took his driving test and received his commercial driver’s license. That day his brother called and asked if he wanted to leave for North Dakota that Thursday, October 20. Two and a half weeks sounded like forever, but we both decided it is what’s best for our family right now.

I had done it. . . only 3 days until Blake would come back. Then Friday, Nov. 4 we were talking that night like we did every night. Blake tells me that they had asked him to stay another two weeks. He was good and told them that he had to make sure I would be okay. Let me add that I had done a very good job at staying strong, but when he told me I could not do it, I had to cry. We discussed it for a while and I told him I would give him an answer by morning.

I was staying at my parent’s house that weekend, so when my mom came into my room and found me crying she was there to comfort me. She let me take a bath in her big jetted tub, where I listened to music and cried my eyes out. I went to sleep okay (probably from crying) but I woke up at 4 am and could not go back to sleep. After thinking about it and figuring everything out I just knew that logically, it only made sense that he stayed out there.

Luckily, Blake will be home November 21 (the day before our three year anniversary). Blake assured me it would be the best anniversary ever, because we will not have seen each other for a month. I have done a pretty good job at making this sob story about me. Blake is living in the back of a truck, eating who knows what, getting a small amount of sleep. I am so thankful for a husband who would sacrifice so much to provide for his family. This experience has made me really appreciate all that Blake does, and how important companionship is. 

 

Also. . . Blake has not shaved for 3 weeks, stay tuned for a picture. . .

9 weeks to go. . .

 

This pregnancy has felt like it has gone by so fast. I'm getting to that point where I ask myself if I am ready. Am I ready to be a mom? Am I ready to give birth? Whenever I get scared I just go into the baby’s room rock in the rocking chair; starring at the crib, pulling little clothes out and imagining what our little one will look like.

Dad's birthday gift

I found this clock on pintrest, and I knew it was perfect for my dad. I started by designing the vinyl. I then went to Jennifer at Traditions and had her print the vinyl and helped bring it all together.

The embarrassing truth

No, this is not pictures from an episode from hoarders. . . This is my neglected bedroom.  I decided it was time to clean/de-junk. The only reason I am posting this is because I am so proud of myself. So the embarrassing  truth is that I am human and messes happen.

My Dream Last Night

I don’t know why but while I’ve been pregnant, my dreams are extra weird. Last night I had a dream about the baby. I delivered the baby and everything went great. What was weird was that my family tricked me into thinking that he was a girl, even though I could clearly see he wasn’t. The part I remember very well however is the happy part of the dream. I was holding our little guy up and making him laugh. Besides having the cutest laugh he had Blake’s smile. I call it the Joker smile, because of how the ends of his mouth curl up. It just made me all the more excited to see what the two of us make.

Dresser Redo

My mom has this very old dresser that was cream and very warn down. We're talking, it's been through all of us kids warn down. I had to fill in all of the dents/caitlin's name, sand it down, reinforce the drawers with glue, and then I got to paint. I went with a very bright green. I loved how it turned out, can't wait to get it in the baby's room.

Corn-rows gurl. . . enough said.

Last night my sister-in law megan gave me corn-rows. Which turned out pretty sweet, but hurt like a mother getting them done. I was going to go to the BYU-Idaho gym this morning with them in. I am sad to say I did not think pregnant, white woman with corn-rows would look very cool.

my 5 year old nephew Carter took this picture





 This weekend was a fun one. I worked a little, relaxed a lot, and worked on baby projects (more to come on that later). After dinner Friday night the baby was kicking like crazy. I believe this one is going to be an active one. Every once in a while he would kick so hard you could see the bulge. I am feeling him more frequently and he is defiantly getting stronger.  

Baby's room

So call me a design nerd, but I have developed my design concept for the baby's room.

I decided not to do any type of theme, and I took Candice Olson's advice when decorating baby's rooms. She explained that baby’s/kids toys are enough to make it look like a kids room. So use adult prints with kid colors. I wanted to play with textures, so by using the rough pallet, the woven basket and light fixture, and smooth silver as an accent I will create unity through variety. I’m still deciding on how I want the bedding to be, but I do want a large bold print.

Craft day

source

I did mine with brown hemp

 Arianne and I decided to procrastinate our chores and we had a craft day. So we got on our bikes, and ventured to walmart, where we bought tacky glue, hemp string, and bouncy balls. We wrapped and wrapped. What stinks is we have to wait 3 days before deflating our balls to make sure the glue cures. I am making these to go over the baby's bright green changing table (that I will refinish one of these days). After we deflate our balls we'll re-pump them up and I will make a big one and she will make a medium one. After our fun craft day we decided we needed to have craft days at least twice a month.

It's a boy!

We had our 20 week ultra sound today. What an exciting day! Blake and I decided to invite mine and his mom. I loved having them there, because Blake does not show his excitement, so it was great to share in the excitement.

While our ultrasound tech was trying to get a good profile shot of the babe he kept moving around. I guess it completely flipped during the time she was trying to take measurements. We might have an energetic sucker on our hands. It was so nice to hear everything was healthy/normal.

After finding out it’s a boy I called/text everyone to let them know. My little sister Aubree was really hoping it was going to be a girl. So when I told the family everyone was really excited except for her. While we were hiking in Montana I asked her why she didn’t want me to have a boy. She said because boys are crazy. I said well I bet if we have a boy he will be cool. “Oh” she says “cool like Blake?” yep I said cool like Blake.

Here’s a funny story

I don’t know if it was because I was nervous/anxious, warm, or because I was laying on my back for so long, but during my ultra sound I started to get really dizzy, and then I started having hot flashes. Apparently I passed out for a few seconds. I wake up to my mom saying my name. I guess I was twitching, so she was really worried I was having a seizure. I was just fine, but I woke up saying I’m so embarrassed.

Why I'm excited for a boy. . .

 I hear all about how fun it is to dress up girls. But, I am honestly so excited to have a little boy to play with. A little boy who will probably be a lot like his daddy. Which I am okay with, because I love his daddy a lot.