Arrival of Maddelyn Faith!

*Disclaimer*  this is a birth story and long due to my inability to keep you all updated throughout the pregnancy.

This was a tough pregnancy compared to my first two.

Lots of sickness, lots of hormones and then lots of early labor. 

At 32/33 weeks she was already sitting so low it was causing pain in my bones.

Contractions would start. and then stop. Start. and then stop. Lost my MP.

Thankfully they never progressed to where they wanted to give me meds to stop them. 

I actually prayed really hard it wouldn't get to that point because the medicine they wanted to give me were actually just advised against by the FDA and yet hospitals still use it!

I just put myself on modified bed rest whenever I felt contractions coming and did what I could to stop them.

By 35 weeks I would get as close to five minutes apart of non painful (compared to real contractions!) and even had several other unmentionable signs that labor could be soon.

OH and she dropped even lower to the point where her head was grinding.  

I was also 50% effaced and dilated to a 2.

We all thought for sure I would have her early but she hung in there.

I went through a roller coaster of emotions because I was getting so impatient.

I had to come to peace with the Lord that this baby would only come at the Lord's timing and when she was perfectly 'baked'.

My mom came out early to make sure she didn't miss the birth.

that relieved alot of stress because I was worried I would have the baby and no one would be around!

I made it to my first due date of June 28th and knew that she was coming soon. 

(I had secretly been in contest with a certain midwife because she felt for sure the baby would come around July 7th but the baby had consistently been measuring for around June 28th. Not a huge difference but in the last month every day seems like a month.

June 29th came. 

Lost MP AGAIN but this time more significant so I had a fleeting thought maybe today but remembered I had an appointment in the morning I couldn't miss, a midwife appt at noon and Aaron had an anotomy test he couldn't miss.

Mom and I snuck out for frozen yogurt.

June 30th came.

Went to appt.

Felt really tired and sore.

Came home rested before Midwife appt. 

Aaron told me jokingly to tell her to do anything to make the baby come today so he could leave class.

I did tell her and we both laughed but then she said I was to a 4 and way more effaced and soft than last week. 

So she offered to strip my membranes which as soon as she did it,  I just knew that baby was coming that day.

I started feeling crampy and little contractions here and there but nothing that caught my attention.

I was focused on getting an assignment done that was due that night. 

Around six Aaron called wondering if he should come home.

I told him no, nothing too steady is happening and I didn't want it to be a false alarm or false hope.

I started timing them as they were starting to get a little painful.

He came home half an hour later and sure enough I was in real labor!! 

I think it was the Lord that prompted him to go home because as soon as he was home the real breathe through ones started to happen.

I locked myself in my room to breath, relax and finish the assignment. 

Around 7:30 I couldn't relax and submitted my assignment with the title, I quit cuz I am in labor!

I decided to take a bath and start listening to my relaxation and birth affirmations from Hypnobirthing. 

I was amazed at how when you are fully relaxed you can actually feel the contractions doing what they need to do. 

I was so relaxed I told Aaron I was not moving and I was having the baby right there.

I felt in the moment, that if I moved I would go crazy like with Brayden's birth.

So I made Mom and Bekah leave so not to put disturbing memories in poor Bekah's head.

Then my water broke.

I labored alone because Aaron sitting there starting at me  got disturbing. 

So he played Fifa and came if I shouted for more ice.

After a few really hard contractions I became really discouraged that I could be doing that for hours. I just wanted her out! I kept telling myself she would be there by midnight.

I kept looking at the clock and losing concentration.

I decided right there I was going to the hospital for drugs.

I told Aaron to get my mom back ASAP cuz I was getting the drugs.

my exact words, "Aaron, this is not me in transition (Totally was in transition) and not having a contraction. I am getting the drugs and having a Brookelyn birth."

Aaron- "honey you don't want a drugged baby and a big fat nurse holding you down"

"YES I DO take me now"

"Ok honey , we will go"
We left at 10:35

Made it to hospital and walked in myself, without screaming like last time, and they wheeled me to a room.

I told them to get me the drugs.

Strange thing was no one was getting me the drugs!

They checked me and said 8 but as soon as she was done I felt the urge to push.

So I started pushing and in the middle looked at the nurse and said, I am not getting the drugs am i.

She just smiled very nicely and said no I am afraid not.

All of a sudden I felt someone grabbing my hand and trying to push me down.

It was a big fat nurse! NO joke!

I started laughing and pushed everyone off me.

They got irritated but I knew what I was doing and didn't want their help.

I literally kept pushing 4 nurses away cuz they were all trying to hold me down.

How in the world are you supposed to push strapped down?!

They backed off and let me do my thing.

Out she came and put on my chest at 11:01pm.

All of a sudden Aaron walks into the room.

Oh yeah he came with!

I was so focused on my breathing, staying relaxed and getting the baby out myself I hadn't even noticed he wasn't there.

I was so ecstatic after her birth I couldn't sleep all night long.

My goal was to feel in control, relaxed and have a natural birth.

I accomplished all that with the Lord's help.

I am glad that I went in to the hospital instead of staying home because the woman that ended up catching the baby did such a wonderful job of letting the baby come with contractions that I was pain free by day 2 postpartum! It was nice to have her coach me through the last hard minutes of delivery.

The labor and delivery ward were in overflow mode so I had to share a room and Aaron had to sleep at home.

Horrid?

Actually not at all.

Aaron needs his sleep so I was actually glad he got to go home and get well rested.

The poor baby next to me cried non stop but when its not your child crying its easier to listen to.

I was able to sit back there all alone and just hold my new baby. 

Without any responsibly to get up with the toddlers, make food or clean the house.

I took advantage of the nursery and the call button.

It was a  little break :)

Everyone came up the next day to see new baby.

Daddy's first time holding her because the night of her birth I sent him home at 11:30pm because he had been up  really early and spent 8 hours doing anatomy before coming to hospital. He was a trooper.

When Aaron came to visit me we just sat on the bed talking, holding baby, watching tv and just having alone time.

It was so reassuring too to know that the babies were at home having fun with Grandma and Bekah.

I would not have relaxed so well if the kids had been in a different situation.

Can you see her little dimple?? She has Aaron's dimples!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so excited when I saw them.

This is her face most of the day.

She has her eyes open ALL the time! 

I will lay her down at night, come back five minutes later and her eyes are wide open just looking around.

At the sonogram to find out her sex her eyes were wide open which is normally unusual as they don't open til about week 30.

She is so alert compared to my other babies. But she loves her sleep too and hasn't been too difficult at nights.

We are thankful to the Lord for working everything out in His perfect timing, allowing me to have the birth I wanted and giving us a beautiful little girl!!!!
The kids love their baby sister and the adjustment to three has been a piece of cake.
Except, every since my Mom left my house is a wreck!!
Thank you Mom for all you did to keep my house clean, kids happy and pregnant hormonal Jana happy.
Thank you all for your prayer support throughout.
Hopefully now that I am not focused on having a baby I can get back into my routine of blogging.
Off to feed Miss Cupcake!

An afternoon at the park

My little Monkey's favorite thing to do is walk to the park.

Well more like get pushed in the stroller so Mommy can get excersise.

It is a wonderful park with huge grass fields.

They love to swing, slide like otters down the slide and play "My stick"

"My stick" is a game Brayden started. 

You find a big stick, run around with it and yell "My stick!!"

They love when Aaron runs around with them waving their sticks high.

Brooke's game is Dinosaurs.

They run around rawr-ing and screeching.

I love sitting in the grass watching my two, I mean three monkeys play!

 Sliding like otters

"MY STICK!"

Brayden loves this white sprinkler head that sticks out of the ground. Except every time he sees it he tries to put his mouth on it.

Aaron was trying to take our girl's picture. See Bubba running towards us.

His first fist-full of smashed flowers for Momma!

Brooke loves to swing as high as she can go! She has fallen off twice but gets right back on

We run them until they are so tired they beg to get in the stroller and go home. 

After bath time they crawl right into their beds, cuddle with their lovies and go right to sleep.

Quick Update!

It has been ages since I wanted to sit down and write a blog. 

If I get extra free time I use it to crawl into bed and watch something on Netflix. 

I took 3 online college classes this semester and really enjoyed it. 

It gave me something productive to do, that isn't baby involved, when I had free time. 

I loved being able to escape diapers, teething, fighting, screaming, naughtiness, terrible two's and wrap my mind around adult topics.

I stopped watching the little girl I had been watching. 

With the pregnancy and my own two kids I was starting to feel overwhelmed.

She was a very high maintenance baby with a very under-involved mother.

I didn't want to let the mom down as she was going through a very hard time but I started praying the Lord would let me go back to being a plain stay at home Mommy with NO daycare.

I have decided I will never Nanny or daycare again.

Babysit for friends or family? Yes.

But never again will I take on the responsibility of raising someone else's child.

When I was single it was a joy because I could love on babies that needed it.

As a Mom with my own two precious babies I felt they weren't getting my full attention. 

So, as always, the Lord heard my prayer and worked out the details perfectly. 

I am a free Momma with time for the kids, school, ME, and my hubby! 

It has been wonderful. 

With all the freedom my nesting stage hit full force.

My hospital bag is all packed.

Miss Cupcake's clothes are all washed, folded and in her little dresser. 

I have organized, cleaned, organized some more and cleaned some more.

Made a trip to Ikea and got some very necessary organizing accessories and dark curtains for my bedroom.

My room now feels cozy, dark, clean and ready for a newborn.

My walls are still covered in color crayon and pen murals but that is one project I have NO energy to take on. And I think they are the walls you can't really wash but rather re-paint.

I had planted beautiful flowers in the holes where our  not so lovely dog dug up but my two lovely children promptly  "picked" them so my gardens are once again empty.

Oh yes, we did get rid of our dog Bella.

We decided we are not dog people.

Thought we were, but found out we are baby/kid people.

It has been a wonderful relief not to have her whining, digging, smelling, pooping and all those other horrid things dogs do.

My pregnancy has been very uneventful which is a good sign!

I am very uncomfortable though. 

I am 34 weeks tomorrow and literally feel like I did when I was 39 weeks with Brayden.

She is very low and head down. 

Her kicking went from insane to very little which is very strange for me.

She has been my most active baby so I sorta of miss her craziness but at the same time it has been a nice relief to not feel sea sick from her flipping rolling and poking.

Her occasional jabs hurt though which is also a new thing. I have never had a kick or elbow hurt but these hurt!

I have Braxton hicks daily and have had two instances where I had real contractions and thought labor was going to start. 

I am hoping that makes labor shorter when real labor does hit.

My due date is still July 7th but the baby is and has been measuring end of June.

I am trying not to get my hopes up but am secretly praying for a June entrance. 

It is isn't realistic as my last period isn't known and I have been known to have periods in the first months of pregnancy.

We will just have to see! 

It is getting really discouraging though to feel so miserable, have so many contractions and constant pressure and know this could go on for several more weeks.

Pray for a patience and or comfort! 

I had been sleeping really well for a long time but in the last week I can't sleep at all. 

I am also an emotional wreck. Feels like PMS... 

But I am happy.

Very happy.

I will update about the kids soon.

They are the best.

Family is coming to visit next month and I get my first baby shower. 

I have such a blessed life. 

Valentines Day!

This year I wasn't planning on having a Valentines Party. I didn't think Brookelyn even understood what was going on.

We skyped Poppa Peltier one night and he asked her what Daddy was getting her for Valentines Day.

That started an excitement in her that I just couldn't ignore.

We started planning what we were going to do and she changed her mind everyday what she wanted.

On the morning of Valentines she came out of bed and said very decidedly,

"Mommy, can we go to Target?"

-Why?

"I just need to get a few things"

-What do you need?

"I just need a small kitty with a bow to cuddle and sleep with!"

We picked out Daddy's present at Target and she got very stressed,

"Mommy!!! I don't know what my favorite candy is!"

"Mommy I just need a cute animal!"

We have a rule that when we go into stores she can't ask for everything she sees or wants.

I also usually don't give in to her wants but I thought since it was a special day I wanted to find a kitty with a bow.

Target didn't have one so I got an idea to go check the Disney store and see if they had gotten in a Woody or Bullseye. 

They had the Woody but no Bullseye :( 

When I thought there was no more choices I found the perfect present!!! 

I pulled aside a store lady and asked her to bag them so Brooke couldn't see.

We left the store with Brooke crying so sadly because she thought I wasn't getting her anything.

It was sad but I was too excited to see her surprised face later!!

After nap we had our Party. 

It was a hit and will definitely be a tradition.

I made the kid's valentines out of foam so they could keep them longer than five minutes.

Bringing Daddy his favorite candy!

Eating treats!

 Time to open up the surprises!

 

Bubba's valentine says Muah because that is his word for kiss. 

 

Very excited about his very own Woody doll! It is hard for him to see Brooke play with Jesse and not have his own. 

 

Brooke was in love with her new kitty!! It is Marie from Aristocats. She hasn't seen the movie yet but she will some day! I showed her some clips on youtube and she loved her kitty even more.

Just had to throw this cute one of Bubba in.

Much love from our family to yours!

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.  Deuteronomy 7:9

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.  1 John 3:1-3

 

Trouble makers!

The other night Aaron was helping me get some laundry done.

If I didn't have him I don't know how I would get through these hormones!

Our laundry machines are in the garage.

I guess that is normal for CA because the houses are all so small.

It was nice and quiet and Aaron was asking why we didn't do this more often.

He went on to brag about how the kids we getting to that age where they didn't need constant supervision and it was nice being able to sneak away for a couple minutes.

We went back inside, Brooke was playing on the Ipad and Bubba was wondering around.

I was in the bedroom putting stuff away when  I saw Brayden's front side.

I literally screamed.

and then grabbed the camera.

My mom taught me well.

I was so focused on what I saw here that I didn't scan the room to see what else he had done.

He had dumped out my whole make-up bag! 

I still don't know how he got it but he did.

Thankfully I don't buy expensive make-up or I would have been more upset.

That is mascara all over his belly by the way and a tube of eye shadow in his mouth.

Pointing to the mess he made....

And two days before BROOKE had gotten in my make-up and came out of the bathroom with dark eyebrows and glitter everywhere.

This is her and her bowl of "pickled peppers"

She likes to sneak off, climb in Bubba's crib and have a session with a De-de.

We went in to check on them one night and found her like this.

That is her pillow case on her legs.

The two of them hanging out in a bucket a baby clothes. 

Notice Brooke once again has managed to find a De-de.

My kids like to get in my kitchen and destroy it.

Or get into the fridge and spill milk or juice.

Or open containers of yogurt and finger paint.

My solution was to put this gate up.

As you can see, Brayden doesn't like it too much.

On a happy note,

We finally had success and Bubba used his potty for the first time! 

Prayer please?!

As of right now I am 16 weeks pregnant...

'Supposedly' I am supposed to be in the 'honeymoon' stage of the pregnancy.

NOT SO MUCH!

My hormones have been C-R-A-Z-Y.

So much so I asked them to specifically test my thyroid.

Sure enough it came back abnormal.

They are going to run more tests and such, but it's amazing how if your thyroid is just a little bit off your whole body is whack!

I have days where I am so depressed (I am not a depressed person!) I can't get off the couch (on top of horrid morning sickness)

and then days where I go, go, go and get tons of stuff done.

I ask for your prayers because I need all the back up I can get.

I struggle with being kind to the kids and it breaks my heart and their' s. 

I struggle with waking up and wanting to pray and seek God to get me through the day.

On good days it is easy, but sometimes on those bad days my flesh gets the best of me.

Pray that the Lord brings me a peace and a patience.

I am not even half way done and I am ready for this baby to be OUT.

I want to slow down and be able to enjoy this pregnancy and the last couple of months with just two kids.

Oh yes! I forgot to tell you all I finally found a place to have the baby!

I have decided Southern California is the worst place to have a baby

for a person that wants a natural, non-invasive birth.

As you know, I wanted a home birth but as I searched around town, I wasn't able to connect with a midwife I was comfortable with.

And to top it off the midwives out here charge a ridiculous amount of money just because they can and there are rich people who will pay for it.

I could have gone that route but the Lord provided me wonderful insurance through my dad (Thank Mr. Obama!) so I wanted to use that. 

It took me a week to call every hospital around here and get opinions and reviews.

I was so stressed I was ready to have the baby in WA or have Aaron deliver the baby himself. 

He even offered, that sweet man of mine, when I was in the middle of a crying fest.

After much stress, I found a hospital that fit my needs!

For those interested,

the majority of the hospitals out here have HIGH c-section,episitomy,vacuum,induction rates.

They take the baby to the nursery immediately after birth so you can 'recover'.

They limit how many people can be in the room with you and some even say no pictures in the delivery room!

The one I found is very supportive of natural, have GREAT nurses aaaaaaaannd, they have midwives!!!

So I will deliver with a midwife after all :)

The Lord is good.

This hospital is similar to the one I delivered at in WA so I am content, happy and at peace.

Now I just need some peace from these hormones!!!!

A get-away

Aaron finished up his last final last semester, came home and announced we were going somewhere for Christmas to get away.

Sadly, the little girl I babysit got Bubba sick the day before Christmas Eve! 

Poor guy was pretty miserable too, so we just stayed home.

On Monday,  Brayden just so happened to have a check-up and it turned out he had a double ear infection.

We decided the best thing was to just stay home until he got better.

That took about two weeks!

At the end of it we were going stir crazy but I had to start babysitting again.

The week dragged on.

Thursday was my last day of work and it was a very stressful day.

Crabby babies, the little girl was STILL sick, I had morning sickness and my kids were very needy.

Aaron saw the distress in my eyes and told me, get packed we are leaving as soon as work is over!

I can pack fast by the way.

You all are familiar with my Mom, and her lists and organization.

If you aren't familiar, go HERE and see some of her ideas!

She has rubbed off on me and it has made for a very efficient life with two crazy children.

When work was over we put the kids in the car and left town.

The kids watched Toy Story 3 on the Ipad the whole way leaving us a nice two hours of quiet.

We got to our hotel and the lady ended up giving us the room for $55! 

I know prices shouldn't really be in a blog but I am still shocked at the good deal, and you know me and good deals!

We immediately all got our suites on and went swimming.

Well, more like all sit in the HUGE hot tub they had.

*Clarification- I did not submerse the belly. But oh it was tempting to crawl all the way in! 

It wasn't that hot so the kids enjoyed climbing in and out.

We all went to bed very early and ended up sleeping in.

Well, 7:30 is sleeping in for us now! 

When Bubba was sick he was up 6.

The next morning we took advantage of continental breakfast and swam some more.

We sat in the room for a while just hanging out.

This is Brayden playing with the Ipad. He is his father's son!

Then they started getting restless and cranky so we went to go find a park.

Brooke named this Dinosaur "my friend Isa"

Bubba climbed up and down the steps

Brooke gave me an almost heart attack watching her climb this thing. But I kept my mouth shut and let her try. She made it to the top safely!

Brayden enjoyed wandering around.

The yellow bars must have invoked some thinking in both of the kids.

Palm Springs is beautiful with mountain right in the background and palm trees literally everywhere. 

We came here in the summer to go up the mountain and show the kids snow. 

This time we just wanted to enjoy the warm sun because we are sick of the cold!

After the park we ate lunch until we were so stuffed we all needed naps.

After naps more swimming and then I got a craving for Mexican food.

We drove around for a long while but finally found somewhere to eat.

Ok just remembering that food is giving me craving... 

Anyone want to go out to Mexican tonight??

(hint hint AARON!)

The next morning Brooke skinned her elbow on the way to breakfast.

If you haven't been around Brooke much, let me explain her.

D-R-A-M-A-T-I-C

She was hysterical and throwing huge tantrums.

We went to the store to get some bandaids hoping that would help calm her.

I really didn't want to discipline her but it was getting to the point she was being naughty and not in pain.

As you can see in this picture she was protesting the new bandaids.

Aaron stepped in and disciplined her and in a few minutes we had our happy Brooke back!

After one last swim, we packed the car, stopped at  Burger King to fill my craving for french fries, we headed home.

Brooke learned how to put her face in the water. She and Bubba both let us take them underwater and show them how to swim. We are highly considering swim lessons for our little fish!

About 10 mintues into our trip home I turned and saw this.

Passed out!

We all enjoyed this vacation so much, not even the kids were ready to go home!

Sometimes a little break from normal life is needed.