Adelyn Grace

Our sweet girl has arrived and we are so in love.

My water broke getting out of bed Saturday morning. I stayed at home until 5 pm hoping labor would start on it's own but had no luck so I went to the hospital to get started on Pitocin. I was super nervous about my low platelet count affecting my ability to get an epidural, especially since I was on Pitocin. I think the lowest part of my entire birth experience was when the nurse told me that the Anesthesiologist reviewed my lab work and did not feel comfortable giving me an epidural. WHAT!?! The ability to get an epidural should be my choice, not someone else's. I, of course, asked to speak to the Anesthesiologist. There was no way he was going to tell me "no" without a detailed explanation. In walked the Anethesiologist and out came the tears but before I could say a word he told me that he re-reviewed the lab work again and that he would be willing to give me an epidural. Praise the Lord!!!! I assured him I would give it my best shot without the epidural but took comfort in knowing that I had options.

I did give it a good shot. I was just plugging along with my contractions when all of a sudden they were ever 2-3 min apart and lasting a min. I think at some point my head started spinning. I got to a 10 but Adelyn was still at a -1 station, meaning I wouldn't be able to push until she came down a little further. So 6 hours into my Pitocin induced labor I demanded for the Pitocin to be turned off and for my epidural immediately. I will NEVER EVER try natural again! Mike tells me I called on Jesus over 100 times during the difficult time in my labor. I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved that epidural. I loved the numbness and how each contraction felt less and less severe as the medicine kicked in. I was such a nicer patient..no nurse wants their patient to threaten to pull out their IVs. I rested for 1 hr and then it was time to push. I pushed two times and out she came...so different than Noah where I pushed for 2 hours. She is beautiful, looks a lot like her brother. She is very cuddly and I can't get enough of her.

We are home now and lovin' life with our little family. Noah has been amazing with Addy. He is going to be such a good big brother.

Am I in labor?

Last Friday night I was doing some exercises to get Adelyn out of the posterior position when all of a sudden I felt they worst back pain....EVER!

Did I just pull a muscle?

The pain lasted for about 3 hours when I begged Mike to take me to the hospital. Off we went, flashers on and speeding down the highway and running through red lights. It felt like we were in a movie.

Mike pulled up to the ER parking lot and rushed me to labor and delivery and then the strangest thing happend- my pain stopped.

Oh no! Am I one of those ladies that thinks she is in labor and then goes to the hospital and nothing is going on??? Surely not, the pain was so intense!!

Unfortunately, there was no baby girl to hold at the end of all that pain. It ended up being a kidney stone.

People say kidney stones are like giving birth, looks like I get to to give birth twice in one month- lucky me!!

On a side note I learned that my platelet count is really low, a common side effect of pregnancy, but mine is so low that I may not be able to get an epidural. I am asking for prayers that my platelet count will go up...I didn't get pregnant thinking I was going to be experiencing "natural" childbirth. Thanks!

Tuesday and Friday Mornings

Every Tuesday and Friday morning we listen for the sounds of our visitor coming.

Sometimes we stand by the door for a long time trying to be patient for our visitor to show up.

When they arrive, Noah sits on the front porch to welcome them and watches until they drive away.

It's the little things.

4th of July

We had a great 4th of July

it started with a parade through our neighborhood with a FIRETRUCK

Thanks Jim for stopping the parade so that I could get a picture of Noah.

And then cookout at our friend's house.

Adorable

The truth is I just can't get enough of this little man.

Whether he is sleeping

doing cute things like this

or this

(not far from Mater)

even doing this

I just think he is perfect

and I'm thankful that most of my days are filled with these.

Haircut

Somebody got their haircut

And I can't stop staring at him because he looks so much like his Daddy.

Circus

Noah went to his 1st circus yesterday with his Paw Paw.

I know he had so much fun cause when he got home he kept talking about the elephants and PawPaw.

He is a loved little boy.

Thanks PawPaw.