Here are some precious pictures of Levi...
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
He is Clean!
Last night we gave Levi his first bath...literally. He did not even get one in the hospital (by our choice according to our birth plan). Read more about why we decided that here. I was very pleased with our choice too! The vernix did really absorb into his skin in an hour or two and looked just like any other baby who did have a bath. Yea for natural antibodies, natural lotion, among other things. God really knows what He is doing!
But at 3 1/2 weeks we decided it was time to give him in first bath. The day before I hadn't taken Levi to the doctor and he said that his belly button was healed and he was ready to be submerged...well, besides his head. Here he is before his rude awakening...
So, I was glad that the boys got to experience this pleasant event and pray and hope we have more of that soon. Luke is especially taking it hard because his older brother started school and his Mom can NEVER put the crying baby down. So Luke just gets left out. It breaks this Mom's heart to see how hard he is taking it. I feel like he thinks he lost his brother and Mom at the same time. I am trying to work extra hard at hugging and spending time with Luke as much as I can. Luke and Levi both cried their hearts out for 40 minutes before nap time today. BREAK MY HEART. I was torn between the two...I couldn't put Levi down and Luke really misses his snuggling time with me as I used to sing and pray with him in his bed before he slept. Now it is inevitable that Levi is awake at that time and I try to sing and pray as I rock Levi out of his pain. Please pray for comfort for Luke and that he knows he is loved and for endurance for me. It is hard for a Momma to not be able to soothe her baby and hard when her older ones long for her attention. ONLY...A...SEASON. Lord, heal and make whole again!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
The boys in Texas
The boys were excited for Levi's arrival for a couple reasons...they were anxious to meet Levi but also ready to head to Texas to see family (Emily's side). The plan was for them to head to Texas once Levi arrived for some fun while John and I adjusted to Levi being outside the womb. It was a blessing to have that time to figure out nursing, sleeping, and making sure Levi was adjusting well.
And the boys had a blast! They did so many different things and loved hanging out with the family. Levi was born at 4:35am on Sunday morning (Pastor's kid had to arrive on Sunday) and by 2pm we were home and introducing Levi to the boys. They saw Levi for about an hour before the left for Mesquite. We were hoping for them to see Levi before they left so everything worked out really well! They got back pretty late since they had several potty stops and a dinner break on the way home. But early Monday morning the fun was to begin! My little sister, Amy, took off work on Monday since the boys were there and it was her birthday! Happy Birthday Sis! She took the boys to the Sunnyvale park and they played and played. I am sure they loved Amy doing things with them! They probably gave her a scare with all they could physically do and attempt. I know they scare their Momma! They also got to eat lunch at Chick-fil-A that day! Win! Win!
Here is Noah climbing on top of the bars...
Tuesday they headed to the Dallas Athletic Club to swim. They have a really nice pool (huge) with a couple different size slides and diving boards and also have a nice toddler pool. They were worn out by the time the day was over!
Wednesday they went to the Dallas Zoo. They love any zoo they've gone to for different reasons. The Dallas zoo has a great merry-go-round with many different animals to sit on, a great children's area to get wet, pet animals, ride horses, etc. Any time we go to the Dallas zoo, OKC zoo, or Fort Worth zoo they have a blast! That night they had a sleep over with their cousin Makenna. I wasn't sure how well it would go but my parents said they were so tired that they just hit the pillow and slept hard (they also didn't go to bed until past 10pm after a movie)...so of course they were tired!
Enjoying the zoo...
This is the bird show that they loved. There was a bird that sang the whole Old MacDonald song and the kids loved it!
This is one of the boys favorite parts of the zoo after looking at animals...the water. It is great when it is hot and they just play and play! It is a big rock river.
Thursday they got to ride the DART train to the Aquarium. They love trains and thought that was super cool! The Dallas aquarium is really nice too. I love how it is set up!
Friday was their last day but again they had a blast. That morning they headed to the new Forney park. It has a great park but also a nice splash pad area. Noah has recently gotten over his fear/dislike of getting his face wet. I wasn't sure when he would ever got over it...but the time has come! A few weeks ago he finally got into the water at the splash pad in Weatherford. Then he actually put his head under the water in the pool in our back yard. We couldn't believe it! We were so proud of him and he was so proud of himself! The next day I got the comment...."My tummy hurts cause I did not swim today. My body needs swimming. Going under water makes me healthy." Wow; what a bad Mom I am from depriving him of his health! Now he can really enjoy the water and loved the splash pad in Forney! One day Luke will get over that too!
That night they headed to the Mesquite Rodeo. The rodeo is a big deal in Mesquite and I remember going when I was younger. They got to do a hay ride before everything started and also participated in the event where the kids run after the animal trying to get the flag. They loved it!
Saturday morning they headed home and we were thrilled to see them! I couldn't believe how big they boys were after being with baby Levi all week! And how much the sound level in our house increased! There is never a dull moment in our home!
Thanks go to my parents and sisters for loving on the boys all week and making it such a special time. It is sad to think that those weeks will not happen as often now that Noah is starting school! Now we have holidays and summers to look forward to seeing them!
Thursday, August 1, 2013
The Raw Details - Levi's birth
As requested by my friends...my birthing experience. I love hearing/reading about others experience so I will share mine too. Be aware...this is just raw details so don't read if you don't want to know about labor and all its glory.
I had such a different experience with all three of my boys. Levi seemed determined to come early. I had consistent contractions numerous times early on...way beyond the suggested hospital visit to make sure nothing is wrong. I would have them every 5 minutes for over two hours at times...not good. Despite many scares, Levi made it to 39 1/2 weeks! Only a few days early!
Here is how it went down...
When I got checked at 36 weeks I was dilated to a 1. The next time I was checked I was at a 4. So all these consistent contractions were actually working! It was just a really slow process. Then when I was checked on Tuesday, July 23rd, I was at a 5! I had continually been warned from my lactation consultant, my OBGYN's, etc. that I needed to get to the hospital if I have consistent contractions because they knew I was at a 5 and were worried I would have Levi at home. So, Wednesday after hours of contractions, John and I headed to the hospital around 8pm only to be sent home a couple hours later. I wasn't progressing and they knew I wanted to labor at home. After we went home, I went to bed and woke up the next morning (besides the bathroom break every hour) still pregnant. After that, I still had quite a few contractions but they would go away until it seemed my body was even less ready to deliver. Then, Saturday sometime before 1pm I started having contractions every 5-7 minutes and that lasted for several hours. Then they started coming every 3-5 minutes but were still just uncomfortable and not real painful. Due to my many warnings, I decided it was time John and I head up to the hospital. Again, we left around 8pm only to be back home around 11:30pm. I still hadn't progressed (only at a 5) and the contractions didn't increase in pain level. Let me just say, getting checked was awful. I had never felt pain in any of my pregnancies by any nurse or doctor when getting checked before! I hadn't even bled even though they say every time that I may bled a little due to getting checked. This nurse checking me was very painful and I bled right away. Ahh! Wasn't thrilled about that happening again! But after I was checked at 11pm, it seemed my contractions were finally starting to increase in pain. Maybe her checking me so roughly got things started? They did suggest breaking my water but knew that was against my birth plan wishes. They just wanted to give me the option since they knew I might be tired of waiting. I was but also wanted things to happen naturally. As we were leaving the hospital I looked a lot worse then when we arrived due to contractions; but we still went home. My contractions continued to get more painful and at 2:45am we decided to head back to the hospital. When I got checked I was at a 7! Praise the Lord! At that point, the pain was definitely there and I knew we were finally going to meet Levi! They were certainly not going to let me go home at a 7. At 3:30am my water broke. I didn't hear it but felt a pop and then leaked. Each contraction I would leak more. My contractions got significantly worse (yes, it is possible) at that point. Around 4:15am or so, I made it to a 10 but Levi still needed to descend into the birth canal. Not the news I wanted to hear at that point! I thought I had arrived only to be let down :( After that horrible, horrible pain, I was finally ready to push. My doctor was so wonderful at guiding me when to push so I wouldn't tear like I did on my other two babies. I took his advice (as hard as it was to 'not push' while the head was half way out) and waited for the head to stretch the skin. There is a reason they call that the 'ring of fire!' After that, I pushed him out after a few pushes. He arrived at 4:35am. 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 21 inches long. Praise God it was almost over! After that point, I was saying praise God over and over and thankful to see our perfect son in my arms. What a beautiful baby he is! Shortly after that I delivered the placenta. After nursing I got to walk to my post partem room. I was very excited about that. I was ready to lay down on that wonderful bed. I remembered loving it when I had Luke! They also told me I would get a 'real' breakfast tray. When you do not have an epidural or any drugs, then you can eat right away instead of having jello or broth to eat. It was yummy! After laying down a while, visiting with family, my doctor, nurses, and my lactation consultant, they said I could go home and they had my paperwork already ready to talk it over and release us. After lots of paper work we were ready! We were about to go when Levi started choking on some amniotic fluid. He came so fast that it was not squeezed out of him. He also could have got some when he was coming out since the fluid shot out every where. After 30 to 45 minutes or so of seeing him chock up and talking with the nurse, we finally headed out. We left around 2pm. We were only at the hospital 11 hours! I was grateful. I would have loved to have Levi at home but find comfort in the security of the hospital in case something goes wrong and you only have minutes. Overall, I was pleased with our experience and glad I could go along with my birth plan without complications. The nurse was even grateful to experience a woman's labor who had a birth plan and birthed naturally without intervention in any way. I am grateful I have no possible side effects since I didn't have an epidural. I am grateful I could eat and walk right away, I could come home much earlier, I could feel my body and push when I needed to so I didn't tear much (which means very easy recovery-in fact it doesn't even hurt!), I don't have to pay for it (Whoa! Expensive!), and the baby is not drugged (and yes they do get some despite what they tell you)! Isn't he precious...
Now here is a recap of my first and second experience: My birth plan was to also do it naturally but it didn't work out this first time. I had been at a 1 for three weeks and once my water broke at 2am (while I was sleeping) I had 24 hours to get him out. After 14 hours of labor I was only at a tight 3. During those 14 hours, they gave me pitocin and increased it several times since I wasn't going anywhere. So, not only was the natural labor painful but pitocin makes the contractions evern worse. Not something you want if you are trying to go natural! At this point, there was nothing else I could do but get an epidural. They told me it was that or do this naturally for 24 hours and then get a c-section because my body was not progressing. I certainly didn't want a c-section if I could help it! Once I got the epidural, my body relaxed and I progressed. I had Noah 21 1/2 hours after my water broke. 1 1/2 hours of that was pushing after I was at a 10! That was a hard work out even with the epidural. Boy it sure was nice to not feel it though! Healing was really, really rough and took weeks of pain, swelling, and bleeding. I had no idea it would be that hard after labor!
With my second, I had it in my birth plan that I wanted to do it naturally and I got to this time. I labored all night at home and once I got to the hospital I was only there two hours before I had him. I only had to push 20 minutes. I could feel everything and knew what to do. The experience was so much better than my first and I torn much less. I just had to have a few stitches! I healed so much faster and got to go home faster.
I definitely suggest having a birth plan and be aware of your choices. Just because a doctor or nurse suggests something, doesn't mean it is best for you and baby. I am grateful my doctors gave me options but were open to letting me experience it the way I wanted. You have to be open because ultimately you have to do what is best for you and baby. only 2 of my 3 experiences went according to plan. And praise God for it all. Lord knows I couldn't have dealt with pregnancy or labor without his grace!
The boys really thought it was neat that we finally brought home Levi after all these months of Mommy's belly growing and reading books about being good big brothers. It was a special time! They loved holding Levi and were so proud! Here are some pictures of the older two boys meeting Levi.
I had such a different experience with all three of my boys. Levi seemed determined to come early. I had consistent contractions numerous times early on...way beyond the suggested hospital visit to make sure nothing is wrong. I would have them every 5 minutes for over two hours at times...not good. Despite many scares, Levi made it to 39 1/2 weeks! Only a few days early!
Here is how it went down...
When I got checked at 36 weeks I was dilated to a 1. The next time I was checked I was at a 4. So all these consistent contractions were actually working! It was just a really slow process. Then when I was checked on Tuesday, July 23rd, I was at a 5! I had continually been warned from my lactation consultant, my OBGYN's, etc. that I needed to get to the hospital if I have consistent contractions because they knew I was at a 5 and were worried I would have Levi at home. So, Wednesday after hours of contractions, John and I headed to the hospital around 8pm only to be sent home a couple hours later. I wasn't progressing and they knew I wanted to labor at home. After we went home, I went to bed and woke up the next morning (besides the bathroom break every hour) still pregnant. After that, I still had quite a few contractions but they would go away until it seemed my body was even less ready to deliver. Then, Saturday sometime before 1pm I started having contractions every 5-7 minutes and that lasted for several hours. Then they started coming every 3-5 minutes but were still just uncomfortable and not real painful. Due to my many warnings, I decided it was time John and I head up to the hospital. Again, we left around 8pm only to be back home around 11:30pm. I still hadn't progressed (only at a 5) and the contractions didn't increase in pain level. Let me just say, getting checked was awful. I had never felt pain in any of my pregnancies by any nurse or doctor when getting checked before! I hadn't even bled even though they say every time that I may bled a little due to getting checked. This nurse checking me was very painful and I bled right away. Ahh! Wasn't thrilled about that happening again! But after I was checked at 11pm, it seemed my contractions were finally starting to increase in pain. Maybe her checking me so roughly got things started? They did suggest breaking my water but knew that was against my birth plan wishes. They just wanted to give me the option since they knew I might be tired of waiting. I was but also wanted things to happen naturally. As we were leaving the hospital I looked a lot worse then when we arrived due to contractions; but we still went home. My contractions continued to get more painful and at 2:45am we decided to head back to the hospital. When I got checked I was at a 7! Praise the Lord! At that point, the pain was definitely there and I knew we were finally going to meet Levi! They were certainly not going to let me go home at a 7. At 3:30am my water broke. I didn't hear it but felt a pop and then leaked. Each contraction I would leak more. My contractions got significantly worse (yes, it is possible) at that point. Around 4:15am or so, I made it to a 10 but Levi still needed to descend into the birth canal. Not the news I wanted to hear at that point! I thought I had arrived only to be let down :( After that horrible, horrible pain, I was finally ready to push. My doctor was so wonderful at guiding me when to push so I wouldn't tear like I did on my other two babies. I took his advice (as hard as it was to 'not push' while the head was half way out) and waited for the head to stretch the skin. There is a reason they call that the 'ring of fire!' After that, I pushed him out after a few pushes. He arrived at 4:35am. 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 21 inches long. Praise God it was almost over! After that point, I was saying praise God over and over and thankful to see our perfect son in my arms. What a beautiful baby he is! Shortly after that I delivered the placenta. After nursing I got to walk to my post partem room. I was very excited about that. I was ready to lay down on that wonderful bed. I remembered loving it when I had Luke! They also told me I would get a 'real' breakfast tray. When you do not have an epidural or any drugs, then you can eat right away instead of having jello or broth to eat. It was yummy! After laying down a while, visiting with family, my doctor, nurses, and my lactation consultant, they said I could go home and they had my paperwork already ready to talk it over and release us. After lots of paper work we were ready! We were about to go when Levi started choking on some amniotic fluid. He came so fast that it was not squeezed out of him. He also could have got some when he was coming out since the fluid shot out every where. After 30 to 45 minutes or so of seeing him chock up and talking with the nurse, we finally headed out. We left around 2pm. We were only at the hospital 11 hours! I was grateful. I would have loved to have Levi at home but find comfort in the security of the hospital in case something goes wrong and you only have minutes. Overall, I was pleased with our experience and glad I could go along with my birth plan without complications. The nurse was even grateful to experience a woman's labor who had a birth plan and birthed naturally without intervention in any way. I am grateful I have no possible side effects since I didn't have an epidural. I am grateful I could eat and walk right away, I could come home much earlier, I could feel my body and push when I needed to so I didn't tear much (which means very easy recovery-in fact it doesn't even hurt!), I don't have to pay for it (Whoa! Expensive!), and the baby is not drugged (and yes they do get some despite what they tell you)! Isn't he precious...
Now here is a recap of my first and second experience: My birth plan was to also do it naturally but it didn't work out this first time. I had been at a 1 for three weeks and once my water broke at 2am (while I was sleeping) I had 24 hours to get him out. After 14 hours of labor I was only at a tight 3. During those 14 hours, they gave me pitocin and increased it several times since I wasn't going anywhere. So, not only was the natural labor painful but pitocin makes the contractions evern worse. Not something you want if you are trying to go natural! At this point, there was nothing else I could do but get an epidural. They told me it was that or do this naturally for 24 hours and then get a c-section because my body was not progressing. I certainly didn't want a c-section if I could help it! Once I got the epidural, my body relaxed and I progressed. I had Noah 21 1/2 hours after my water broke. 1 1/2 hours of that was pushing after I was at a 10! That was a hard work out even with the epidural. Boy it sure was nice to not feel it though! Healing was really, really rough and took weeks of pain, swelling, and bleeding. I had no idea it would be that hard after labor!
With my second, I had it in my birth plan that I wanted to do it naturally and I got to this time. I labored all night at home and once I got to the hospital I was only there two hours before I had him. I only had to push 20 minutes. I could feel everything and knew what to do. The experience was so much better than my first and I torn much less. I just had to have a few stitches! I healed so much faster and got to go home faster.
I definitely suggest having a birth plan and be aware of your choices. Just because a doctor or nurse suggests something, doesn't mean it is best for you and baby. I am grateful my doctors gave me options but were open to letting me experience it the way I wanted. You have to be open because ultimately you have to do what is best for you and baby. only 2 of my 3 experiences went according to plan. And praise God for it all. Lord knows I couldn't have dealt with pregnancy or labor without his grace!
The boys really thought it was neat that we finally brought home Levi after all these months of Mommy's belly growing and reading books about being good big brothers. It was a special time! They loved holding Levi and were so proud! Here are some pictures of the older two boys meeting Levi.
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