The rest of the best!

I thought it probably seems that I am neglecting my other children as I have blogged about Chase so much.  So, here is an update on the rest of the best kids in the world!  

 Bailey- The last few months have been busy for Bailey preparing for dance recitals and end of 5th grade testing. She loves to play on her ipod, ride bikes, and play barbies.  One day Elli and Bailey were playing Barbies and they got in a fight.  Turns out the fight was that Elli wanted the barbies to date in their game, and Bailey said that wasn't right cause it might make them want to date and they are too young.  It was so cute.  It is already pretty clear that this is one kid who has her head on straight and we wont have to worry about her!  I asked her if she ever fights with her friends (Elli does constantly) and she said no and looked at me like I was dumb for asking.  She is very even tempered and easy going. We have only very recently started to see small signs of the pre-teen sass, but so far, nothing we can't handle or laugh about!

 Elli- This little girl thinks that she needs to grow up much faster then her momma would like her to.  She is all about being fancy, wants a cell phone SO bad, fights like crazy with her friends, and is very worried about passing her 3rd grade tests.  It seems to me that the things that she is experiencing right now are things that I remember from about age 13, not 8!  Sometimes its hard to remember that she is only 8 because in some ways she truly acts older.  But in other was, she is still just a sweet innocent little kid.  My singing and snuggles comfort her above anything else.  She is very good with Chase.  Very protective and proud, however she does not handle his crying well at all. Elli loves boys, seafood, high heels, reading, ipod, doritos, and her school teacher.  I am impressed with Elli's testimony.  She is very interested in the second coming, hates hearing bad words, and is good at apologizing when she makes mistakes. 

Carter has been loving his little brother so much. The last few months he has been so good. He is suddenly happy, obedient, and cooperative.  He has his moments of course but he is just so happy all the time it is wonderful.  I have been really stressed about my milk supply as it has been too low for Chase. I have had to supplement with formula and been trying everything I could find to increase my supply.  Anyways, Carter and Elli heard me talking on the phone about it and asked what I was talking about. I explained it to them saying I was frustrated cause I had tried everything and nothing was working.  Carter said matter-of-factly, "Have you prayed about it mom? If you pray about it I know Heavenly Father will give you more milk." At that moment I felt like a real idiot.  I told him the truth, I hadn't really prayed about it.  I thanked him for thinking of that for me and told him I thought it was a great idea.  He said, "I will pray for you too mom."  I saw him praying several times during the day, and he included it when we said family prayer as well.  So cute what we can learn from our kids.  Makes me want to be a better person every day.

1 year older and wiser too

"Birthday's are good for you. Statistics show that those who have the most, live the longest"

Even though I have been dreading this #30 for a while now, I guess it's time I accepted the fact that I am getting old.  I got spoiled this year-as usual- and got a new ipad and case, along with a cute new purse.  It was a fun family day!

1 month

Chase 

1 month 

 9 lbs 4 oz 50% 

22" 90%

Graduation

 

I can't believe that I finally graduated.  It is such a good feeling!  It has been a long journey but I am so glad I did it!  After I got divorced and knew I may have to provide for my family on my own, I had to make the decision to go back to school and what to study.  Before I had kids I was going into nursing.  I hadn't made it very far but I had a decent start.  For some reason though, I didn't feel that was the right direction to go.  Around the time of debating these things, I got a job at the elementary school where Elli was in Kindergarten. I worked in the lunch room and as a teachers aid.  I loved it!  Yes, even the lunchroom which was crazy, I actually enjoyed.  I was praying like crazy to know the route to take for myself.  The answer I received was the most clear answer I have ever received.  I knew that I was supposed to be a teacher.  I just knew. With not a single doubt.  I started school a month later with just one class for the first 2 semesters and then gradually working up to my full time schedule during the program.  It was a wild ride but I really loved school, I just hated being gone from my kids so much.  But thanks to so many amazing friends and family, we made it work and now I can say I did it!  Even with all the changes during the time I was in school, there were always challenges but always rewards.  The weird thing about being done is that I am almost sad.  I truly love learning and when you are studying a field you have a real interest in, it makes it just that much better.  I hope that I can return to school to get my Master degree sometime.  I would love to get a Masters in Child Psychology or even just education again.  That will be a goal for a ways down the road, but I look forward to it.  

A lot of people have asked what I am doing now.  I plan on taking a year off to just be a mom.  My kids need it and so do I.  Not to mention having a new baby. I can't imagine taking him to day care.  I hope to sub and have already had several teachers ask me to sub for them which is great to keep my foot in the door and stay up on educational advances. 

We took the kids to graduation so they could see what I have been working so hard for. They have sacrificed too!  I hope it inspires the to continue their educations when they get there too!

Sunday

We took Chase to sacrament meeting on Sunday. It was nice to be there again. My last several weeks of pregnancy I didn't make it to church much except for sacrament. I am looking forward to attending all my meetings next week. But who can resist another opportunity for a cute baby picture!

Cousins

Chase is lucky to be born amongst many little boys.  On my side we have Makai 10 months older, and Kelsee's unborn boy who will be 4 months younger.  On Steve's side Zach is 5 months older. Lots of fun to come with all these boys I am sure!  But oh how I love little boys!

 Makai was so cute meeting Chase.  Without any encouragement, he came in and immediately went to Chase and started kissing him.  He would pat his head and smile and kiss him some more.  Chase wasn't so loving.  He cried and slept but it didn't phase Makai! So cute!

In just 5 months look at how much they grow!  Zach didn't know what to think of the crying little guy we kept putting by him.  He would just look at him then back at us. Chase was extremely grumpy that night as you can tell!  Seeing Zachs smiles made me excited for Chase to start smiling!

Tubby time

 

You may think it started out well, but this only lasted about .2 seconds and then we were to this...

Every bath after this one, didn't even begin well.  It was screaming the whole time, every time. We have tried the sink, two infant tubs, and a sponge mat in the regular tub.  The kid just hates to be cold so apparently the warm bath doesn't make up for the cold of being naked.  Too bad he spits up so much so he has to have baths frequently or he stinks.  Lucky for me I just love the smell of a clean little baby so I look forward to the after snuggles. 

Pregnancy to Birth

I regret that I didn't document much about my pregnancy during my pregnancy, but since there is still enough I remember right now, I figured its better late than never.  The funny thing is, as hard as this pregnancy was, I miss it.  Carrying and delivering a baby is really the most amazing thing on earth. I am so thankful that I have the ability to carry, deliver, and raise children in this life.  I can't imagine anything greater than being part of that miracle.  Even though I have my baby in my arms all night, when I wake up in the morning I have my hand on my belly.  It is a natural habit my body got into during the last 9 months.  I would always make sure I felt him move before falling asleep and before getting out of bed.  When Chase was first placed in my arms, I felt like I already knew him and he knew me.  The bond was already there.  It was like I could picture our lives together in the blink of an eye.  The long nights, the first smile and first steps, walking to the park holding hands, helping him learn how to ride a bike, going through school, the times he needs comfort and the times we laugh together, even up until he leaves on a mission and gets married.  I saw it all instantly although briefly.  This little boy had my heart long before he was even placed in my arms.  He is such an amazing blessing that I will be eternally grateful for and I am so thankful to have the blessing of a temple sealing so that he can be ours for eternity.
My pregnancy with Chase was a lot harder than with Elli and Carter.  It may have just been because I was a lot busier.  The first half my pregnancy I was still in school full time. I was very nauseated but the Zofran the doctor prescribed gave me killer headaches.  I had to choose what was most bearable for the day.  In October I took Elli and Carter to the dentist and while there I started gushing blood.  I drove myself to the ER as it was only a few blocks away.  I was frantic and bawling.  I felt better once they heard the baby's heart beat but I still bled badly for several hours.  Later we found out the sub-chorionic hematoma I had (they had found it on a previous ultrasound I had when I was cramping badly), had ruptured causing the bleeding.  The baby was fine besides an increased heart rate which was most likely caused from my stress.  I was put on bed rest for a few weeks which was tough with school. Luckily I had some amazing professors and friends who helped me stay caught up and took great care of me.  The ward set up meals and I had lots of friends help with the kids.  Steve of course pulled more than his share, (actually he did during the whole pregnancy).

At my 20 week ultrasound they found two abnormalities that set me for a whirl again.  Chase had some cysts on his brain called Choroid Plexus Cysts.  This wasn't new to me. Elli had them too.  With her, they sent us to primary childrens for further ultrasounds and tests. They suggested an Amnio which I turned down.  Back then (even just 8 years ago), they prepared us with the risks such as downs syndrome and other chromosomal disabilities.  This time, the doctor insured us that these were fairly common and most likely a lot of babies have them but until recently with the high end medical equipment, they are just now becoming visible.  He said it was nothing to worry about at this point and would likely go away on their own.  Of course I still stressed, how do you not!  The other thing they found was enlarged kidneys. The Dr said again to not stress and they would just keep an eye on them.  They scheduled an ultrasound for 35 weeks to check them and so they could inform the pediatrician at birth what the issue was.  Well, things turned out great because both issues resolved on their own and he was born healthy and strong!  What a blessing!

The last trimester I was student teaching in a 1st grade class.  I left the house at 7:15 and got home about 4:30.  Days were long dealing with 27 six and seven year olds but I loved those kids!  I had a great cooperating teacher and college supervisor.  Unfortunately during this time my hips and back started to have major problems.  I was in so much pain most of the time it was hard to even walk.  One day I sat on the floor in class to play a game with my students and I was in an unbearable amount of pain for three days after that.  The pain pills the doctor gave me made me tired so I only took them at night.  I honestly believe that the only way I made it through those 3 months was prayer.  I cried all the time from the pain and many nights I told Steve, I can't do this any more.  But, I got up the next day and did it.  Looking back, I don't know how I made it but I am so glad I did. 


This pregnancy I tested positive for GBS.  Because of that and my hips the doctor suggested inducing me early. With my last two babies being over 8 lbs, his weight wasn't an issue and from the ultrasounds he was measuring a week ahead anyways.  I finished student teaching on Friday, had my baby shower the next tuesday and had Chase on Wednesday.  It was crazy how fast everything went. 


My mom came up Tuesday night. We went in early Wednesday morning and got started on antibiotics then Pitocin.  The antibiotics burned my arm. I really thought my arm was going to explode. It was so weird. My mom got Elli and Carter off to school and then came to the hospital with us.  I was so thankful to have my mom and Steve with me.  I really do not like epidurals but I am to nervous to go without it. I hate it going in, I hate it going out, and I hate how it makes my body feel.  One of my legs was so dead it was scaring me.  Same thing happened with Elli.  Took me a long time to be able to walk afterwards.  I like being able to still feel the contractions coming and be able to control my body.  I didn't feel in control at all.  I progressed fairly well and when it was time to push it didn't take long.  After only a handful of pushes, my little boy was in my arms at 2:57pm.  He instantly put his fingers to his mouth as we had noted in all the ultrasounds.  He was calm and seemed to just stare up at me.  The nurse said to make him cry but I have a hard time doing that to my newborns.  They are so small and seem so fragile.  They took him from me to weigh and clean him up.  He weighed in at 8lbs 7oz, a perfectly healthy size!  He was perfect in every way. Sometimes I wonder if every parent thinks their own kids are perfect, but I am totally unbiased ; ) 


My mom left to go get Elli and Carter and they were so excited to see him!  My friend Kami had kept the kids until my mom could get there and they were very anxious.  They arrived just in time to see his first bath.  They didn't like seeing me with the IV in and in a hospital bed. They are very protective and do not like to see me in any pain at all.  They loved holding their baby brother.  They brought a balloon and flowers for us and some treats. (Bailey was able to come by for only a few minutes but she was still happy to see him.  Luckily the kids had spring break the following week and she was able to be with us during that time.)They didn't want to leave that night. Steve was nice enough to stay with us in the hospital at night, despite the horrible chair/bed in the room.  Chase was off to a great start breastfeeding which was a relief, but his blood sugar was low so they had to give him some formula to help with that. 


The hospital does this really cute "celebration dinner" for parents.  You order from a special menu and they deliver the food with a flower and sparkling cider.  Its really a cute idea. Elli and Carter were there for ours and they gobbled it right up!  It was so funny. They kept saying, "sorry we are eating your special dinner-it's just so good!" Obviously we didn't care- how good could hospital food really be? Besides, it was a celebration they deserved too!

We came home from the hospital Friday morning.  Chase looked so cute and tiny in his carseat.  It was nice to be home but I felt a little sad that it was all over-it went so well and I knew my baby was going to grow up faster than I wanted him to.  I felt so blessed through it all and still do!