The Stork Came

It's official- the Stork came to our house (thanks to my friend Niti!) I have never had one come before- and it is super fun!

So this delicious babe...

As you well heard, came pretty smoothly. Everyone has been asking for my side of the story since Connor had a debut on the blog with the his version.

I am not known for having contractions that are spaced out and then slowly become closer together. I start out right at 4 min and decrease from there. So after an hour of contractions like this I decided I really was in labor (Connor would say "duh" right here.) I do admit that I would have enjoyed leaving earlier than we did. So our 39 mile drive to UNC Hospital only took about 15 min! Connor was probably worried we would have another Corbin experience (pushing in the car and a baby 30 min after arriving at the hospital.) Triage took WAY longer than I had imagined, or maybe I was so tired from having no relief between contractions (now at 1 min apart.) I felt like a nag cause I kept asking when I was going to get that dang epidural. I have never had one before (excluding my C-section) and wanted to enjoy it while I could. While the anesthesiologist was putting my epidural in I had all the urges to push. My fear was that I would push her out before I had time for the epidural to take effect. This was a fear mainly due to the fact that my last two VBAC births have also been 4th degree tears- which everyone keeps telling me is "so rare." I was given a lecture on the repercussions it could have on my body if I had another tear to that degree. Thus the midwife group and all the worry- I knew I needed to be able to push slowly so I would tear less. Luckily, I had a WONDERFUL nurse and midwife on call. She massaged and oiled and coached me through all the pushing. I can say that I LOVE EPIDURALS!!! I think Connor loved it just as much. Prior to, Connor did say he thought I was going to break his hand. And with my other births I almost broke his back. This experience was surreal. It was wonderful to enjoy the experience instead of hate it and wish it were over. I was finally able to hold a baby right after birth and Connor was able to cut the cord. You would think with three other births we would have had these experiences. I only tore to a #1- which was a miracle in the eyes of all the midwives in the practice. It is truly amazing how much easier this recovery has been!

I am thankful to all of those who gave me positive advice and encouragement. I am thankful to my Father in Heaven who loves me and was able to direct me in the path that I should take for this birth and who showed me love through helping me deal with my own fears.

Post Baby Let Downs

I was SO excited to finally be able to sleep/lay on my stomach again

Let down: Milk has taken over and we are too sore for that

I was SO sick and tired of maternity clothes and hopeful that I could wear my "bigger stuff"

Let Down: There is now way! Sadly the maternity clothes look worse on me now than before!

Spring is here and everyone is out exercising, I am getting the itch to go run.

Let down: They say you can't exercise till 6 weeks postpartum

For all of those who have "non-traumatic" birth experiences- when do you REALLY start exercising??? Also- my nurse said no driving a car for 2 weeks!!! What- I am having a hard time with this one!

But... I am enjoying getting to hug my husband from the front instead of from the side!!!

The Power of Invisibility

As you can see by my counters to the right, SHE is here. But is she? Well ... I wish it were just that easy. I guess she really is, she just isn't breathing air yet! I was really hoping she would have graced us with her presence by now. However, I am not one of those "lucky" ones (which is most of you) who is pleasantly rewarded by not having to be pregnant and waiting for the "full 40 weeks." However, I know I am not the only one who has to endure being mentally teased (or is it plagued) by my so called "DUE DATE."

I DID NOT want to go anywhere today, especially church. But sitting at home would have caused more regret than it was worth. And of course, I got what I expected... 1/2 of people asked me "what are you doing here?" (Really, that made me rethink my decision) and another 1/4 of them say "aren't you going to pop?" (obviously, these are the men- like that is even possible!! But sadly, I wish it were.) So then the last 1/4 start to tell me how they went into labor, assuming that by some small chance I might have the same experience, which is highly doubtful because I don't even know how I go into labor. Then the last 1/4 (are you enjoying my math yet) of people try to give me advice on how to induce labor- I sit there and just smile because I have literally tried them all (from jumping on the trampoline to moping the floor on all fours.) They don't work! And if they worked for you, I believe that it just so happened that you were going to go into labor anyway!

So as I sat there feeling sorry for myself I truly wished I had the same powers as this Incredible:In that case I would use my invisibility powers from now until I go into labor (preferably right at this very moment.) Then I would not have to face the people I know, who keep telling me the very obvious- that I am still pregnant. And I would also not have to face the hundreds of people that give me terribly funny looks in the stores due to my hugeness! Really, they give me that "how is that even possible" look, or the "dang that sucks" look. Oh, and I could then start calling my mom again without her asking me if I am in labor yet.

I have come to a scientific conclusion, that there is NOTHING you can say to a woman who is "over due" to make her feel better- at least I haven't heard it. Kadi, my sister-in-law, wrote me an email that is the closest thing I have to comfort, especially knowing that she knows EXACTLY how I feel.

And in the weirdest way, going over a "due date" makes me dramatically less optimistic and I now feel like SHE will never come out, which is utterly impossible, but exactly how I feel. I feel extra anxious because of medical complications I have had birthing in the past. Sadly, this is not my first time being overdue!

So to all those women out there who go over due- you are my heroes!

Also, to the right is our name poll. Let me know what name you like for this little girl.

How Big Is HUGE

I have had a few friends recently complain about how big they are when they are 9 months pregnant. I would just like to say that I have never in my life seen another person who sticks out as far as I do. And here is a picture to prove it...

Now really, that looks totally fake right? But it's not! That is a real live BASKETBALL!!! Or did I swallow a watermelon without knowing it? I don't know how physics and physiology have combined to make this work. Connor still looks at me funny- in amazement. And you might think that this is a big baby, or maybe two, but it is not- maybe a 7.5 lb er at the most!

Sadly, I get so many funny compliments from strangers- one lady at the park said she would pray for me!

So next time you think your big, you can look at my blog again!

Spring Singing Time

On Sunday I chose a very springy wiggle song (I am the primary chorister in my ward). I bet you can guess... Yep, "Popcorn Popping On The Apricot Tree." However, I did not make the ironic connection between the way I look and the song- but my Bishop did! Now we can all laugh at the bulging lady leading the song!

And if you don't have this CD, you better get it!

January's Random thoughts

This is what I wanted and got for my Birthday...A new way to organize Ashlyn's clothes so we won't fight so much, so far so good!

Here I am, does this look unusually large for a 28 week pregnancy to anyone else!!!!

It can't look very pretty in 12 more weeks!

It's A...

In our attempts to cut to the chase of our baby name dilemma,
Today we had our ultrasound and were excited to know the gender.
Some people wonder why we want to know, since we already have both.
Alas, the suspense of not knowing when I could is too much.
Good thing the technician could not find anything unusual
In all of the measurements and organs. We get very anxious
Right as the ultrasound starts due to the problems found in dylan's.
Luckily the gender was revealed, the baby had those legs tucked in tight.

Hidden above is the answer!!!! Just trying to prolong the suspense for all of you, have fun!

Growing

I was folding laundry and Corbin pulled this shirt out and insisted I put it on him...
But it is also true!!! Are we crazy? Yes, but excited too! We are hoping this little one will arrive on or before April 11th. Send me all the names you can. As you know, or if you didn't, that is the hardest part of our marriage- agreeing on a name! Thankfully, I am feeling much better and survived the rocky beginning. Sadly, those around me did not have much of a chance for guessing I am prego, I look well beyond my months already!

Is it really so

Here is an updated picture of the little guy we are yet to meet. You would think it couldn't get any bigger than this, but somehow it has.

I would like to thank all of those who voted and gave me new, great ideas for names. However, I am disappointed that my name got out voted. My first pick is Camden, and then maybe Gavin. But then we were thinking we could name him Corbin Bleu Thompson. Any High School Musical Fans with us??

The counter is down to only three days, however he can't come tomorrow because Dylan has clearly let us know he would like to keep his birthday to himself. I think we were ready last week for this kid to come. I had cleaned the house, done my laundry and even done my own shaving! I learned from my sister-in-law that really the toe nail painting and leg shaving is customly done by the husband- great idea considering I had to hold my breath just to clip my toe nails!

As some of you might have guessed the above picture is not really me, it is Connor with one of Dylan's birthday balloons stuffed in his shirt. Here is the real thing:

And still I think this doesn't quite do justice, seriously, I am unnaturally huge! As you can see I am also sporting my everyday outfit- sweats. I live in them because everything else is so breezy now-a-days. My maternity clothes have actually gotten too small and they don't meet in the middle! And boy can it get cold here! Maybe that is why this kid hasn't come- he can feel how cold it can get and he likes to stay where it is always warm.

Put us in your prayers for this week. This kid had better come or I will go insane. I think Dylan and Ashlyn no longer believe that this kid is ever really going to come because of the many anticipatory comments we have made to them. We are constantly telling them, to tell Him to come out and play. Ashlyn thinks it is all just a big game and Dylan doesn't remember the last time I actually played "the real" games with him (wrestling, running and tackling him.)

No where to go but out

Here is just a glimpse of my 8th month, for all of
those that hounded me for pictures. Dylan, again, is my photographer. These are just a few of the silly comments I get (maybe you can relate):

1. Are you over due?
2. Is that real or is it just a basketball?
3. Wow, you are really big!
4. You look so... um...beautiful (I mean what else would they say to a pregnant lady, but do they really mean it?)
or
5. They talk about that "pregnancy glow" that you have all over you- which is just bull, cause we all know we don't glow!!

I have now arrived at the "very ready to have my body back stage", however, not quite ready for the all nighters! But it is way too late to turn back now!

One last and final note: Dylan is such an amazing photographer that he can make anything look better than it really does. So to say the least, the basketball is really bigger than it looks! Even Connor is constantly amazed at how big I am, and he just laughs. At least I can give someone a good laugh!

Leaves, Leaves and more Leaves!!

This is for all my friends in Boston who wish they had a house (or even a yard), and also for my friends and family who live in the dry West who wish they had greener vegetation.


This picture represents what I did today- ALL day! This is 1 of 5 piles of leaves that I raked in the BACKYARD alone- and only two weeks worth of leaves. I promise that this pile is bigger than it looks in the picture (taken by Dylan who refused to come out and be in it- pretty good for a three year old)! But it didn't end at making huge piles. I then had to rake them onto a tarp and pull them to the front curb. I decided our curb isn't big enough. I also didn't realize how heavy leaves are! By the last few loads I also had a couple of kids on the tarp as well. I didn't know it would be so hard to juggle leaf raking and two kids in the cold! So nap time, and a little TV really helped. It didn't help that my Dylan, with his three year old curiosity (those with three year olds know what I mean) asked why we have to rake the leaves. It really made me rethink the worth of what I was doing.

Most of you are probably wondering why a 7 month pregnant woman is raking so many leaves. Today was one of a VERY FEW dry, and amazingly sunny, days here. I had to take advantage of being able to rake dry leaves, wet ones are even harder to rake! I also have a husband who gets home after dark and I wanted to spare him the hours in the dark. To top it off- our "leaf guy" comes any day now to suck up our leaves.

So to all of those who don't even own a rake- I envied you today!!

Our Big News

Okay, so I know not everyone knows but we are excited to welcome a new little boy the end of January into our family. Dylan was very excited to learn he was going to have a little brother. Ashlyn of course thinks she has a baby in her tummy too.