A New Day

Today is going just a bit better than yesterday. Reese was still up 4 or 5 times last night which was rough, but now she's sleeping like a champ. Probably bad news, I know...but it's still nice to get a break from one of them for a little while.

Bad Berads

My kids are just bad...I've come to terms with this realization today. I was hoping for a "good baby" the 2nd time around...but it's just not happening. Reese was awake from 2 am till 6 am last night and it just about put me over the edge. At 8 am sharp, she and Carter both started screaming at the same time to get out of bed. Derrick was already gone for the day so I tried to figure out who I should get first. I got Carter out of bed...his diaper had leaked and he was all wet. Changed him and brought him into Reese's room. She was really wailing by then, got her changed and dressed and carried each of them downstairs. I tried to get Carter to eat something but all he wanted was juice. So I sat down to nurse Reese and he was absolutely beside himself. He did not like seeing me holding her and feeding her and wanted none of that. Once I finally got her settled I went back to the task of getting him to eat breakfast. All he wanted to do was read and play with his trucks though. Shortly after he started acting weird and I caught a pretty gross smell...had to take him upstairs and clean up a blowout...no need for details, it was quite disgusting. I had to take the very awake and crabby Reese up with me and had her in his crib while I was changing him...she was screaming and he was screaming, and I was just trying not to lose my head.

By this time it was about 9:30...I had organized a group playdate at our neighborhood playground with about 7 other moms and needed to get the kids ready. In the midst of packing everything up, Carter spotted Cheezits in the pantry and decided he wanted those for breakfast. So I let my kid eat Cheezits and then some Ritz Crackers for Breakfast today...I know, I'm such a wonderful mother! haha

We got to the playground on time amazingly..Carter got out and starting digging in the mulch...Reese started to cry. I tried to hold her for a while. There were several other moms there with very young babies who slept peacefully the entire time...not mine though...she cried and cried. Finally I strapped her into my front carrier and wore her around while I chased Carter here and there.

Once we got home, Carter had another blowout while I tried to feed him lunch, nurse Reese and eat something myself, all at the same time. An hour after he went down for a nap, FINALLY, Reese is sleeping. Hallelujah. I need to go take a nap now too!!

Crazy Kiddos

Rough Weekend

Our happy baby was very rough this weekend. She didn't want to sleep at all...day or night. I have no idea what was troubling her but it totally wore us out. Now today, of course when Derrick is away at work, she is sleeping all day. I just hope she sleeps some tonight too.

5 Amazing Years!

I can't believe we've been married 5 years today. I am so blessed to have the most amazing, supportive, loving, patient, hard-working husband!

New Pix

Bathtime - isn't she just the cutest???

Taming the mane...I don't think it'll stay flat though, in spite of Daddy's efforts. :)

Reese slept SOOO well last night. She actually has been the last 3 nights, only waking up twice. Last night she went down at 10:30 and slept till 3:30, then slept till 6:30. I am LOVING it and just pray that it lasts!

My Birth Story

So this will be way more information than many of you may care to read, but I wanted to record the events of Reese's birth so I don't forget any of the details as time passes.

Since the day I found out I was pregnant a 2nd time, I knew I wanted things to go differently. I didn't want a repeat C-Section and would do whatever it took to achieve this goal. Derrick and I both spent hours researching VBAC and all the steps necessary to have a successful VBAC. I cannot thank him enough for being such a wonderful and supportive husband who took such an interest in helping me with my ideal birthing experience.

As the pregnancy progressed, we encountered various challenges. It was hard to have to explain over and over again why we wanted a VBAC and a natural birth this time around. I found a practice of nurse midwives who ultimately delivered my baby. Changing over to this group was a huge step in the process.

There were 4 false alarms leading up to Reese's birth where I really thought I was going into labor. This and the fact that I was ultimately 9 days past my due date made for a challenging time for me. The last couple times I went to the doctor I was getting more and more pressure to schedule a date for induction or even a repeat c-section...maybe this is ultimately what pushed me into labor on the afternoon of the 8th.

That evening as the contractions got stronger and stronger I knew it was finally happening. I tried to cope as long as I could - from about 2 am to 4 am but finally woke Derrick up at 4, needing a little extra support. I called my Doula Kelly at 6 am in a lot of pain and asked her to come right away. Kelly stayed with me at home till about 9 am that morning of the 9th and was such a tremendous help to me. I could not have stayed at home that long were it not for all the encouragement both she and Derrick gave me. She had another client who also was in labor and had to leave to be with her so my backup Doula Beth came to the house and left to go to the hospital with us a little after 9. She rode in the back of the car with me. Never did a 20 minute ride seem so long!

When we got to the hospital, we were held up in triage for about an hour, which was really tough. It was much harder to relax in that setting and I was getting pricked with needles, etc. But when they checked me upon arrival I was already at 7 cm!! SO exciting!

Once I got to the L&D room things really started moving. I had to try a number of different positions because Reese wasn't quite lined up right and wasn't dropping down as I dialated. As the contractions got more and more intense, Beth helped me with my breathing and Derrick was a constant encourager and back-rubber. We got to 9 and 1/2 cm and my water hadn't broken yet so they decided that would be a good move to get the baby to drop down fully. Once they broke my water it all went very fast. She had to manually hold my cervix open as I pushed a few times to get the last lip to open up. It was really hard to stay relaxed during those few pushes. And then it was all pushing after that. I've never experienced something so intense in my life. It was all out survival mode at that point and I just wanted to get the baby out. I pushed with everything I had for 45 minutes and then, she was here! They put her right up on my stomach and she was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. She was 7 lbs. 15 oz, 21 inches long, born at 2:30 pm on July 9th...my little miracle.

I had to be stitched up for about 45 minutes afterward which was rough...I had several 2nd degree tears, but when it was all over, I felt so amazing compared to how I felt after Carter's birth by c-section. I was able to leave the hospital 24 hours after giving birth and feel so great already, it's amazing. I am so thankful to God for giving such a healing birth experience and giving me the strength to do everything drug and intervention-free. It is an experience I will never forget!

Welcome Reese Daniella!!!

Still....no baby

It's 7/7 and I'm 7 days overdue....AND there is a full moon tonight. Maybe today???

Still no baby

I know every is dying to know...baby has not arrived yet. We've had a couple false alarms where I was SURE it was coming. Hopefully very soon!