A New Life

I know EVERYONE has been dying to hear how labor and delivery went. Well, I will just have to tell you. Or, if you don't want to know about it, I am writing this down for journaling purposes.

When I was 9 or 10 I remember a friend of mine telling me that she was able to watch her mom give birth to a new sibling. Ever since then I had a desire to watch someone go through labor and delivery.

I tell you this because, if I had this desire then maybe Emma would want to see something like this too. So, I asked Emma if she would like to be there. I told her how gross it would be and that I would be in lots of pain and that it wouldn't be that pretty of a sight.

She thought about it and thought about it, and I made her think about it more. We read a book together and she said that she would like to be there.

So, she came and I asked my Mom if she could come also so Emma could get the heck out of there if she needed to.

It sure is a looooong wait when one is being induced. So, we had cartoons on pretty much the whole time. That was fun for Emma.

Here's the story:

We got to the hospital at 6:55 in the morning. I was getting a fairly good nights rest, except for Emma coming in every few hours asking if it was time to go, or if it was time to get ready, or if I was sure that we should be sleeping.

We were checked in and in the room at about 7:35 am. They started the induction process at 8:00 with jell. I was already dilated to a 3. And not effaced much.

They had me lay down for an hour then walk for an hour. I was supposed to be cramping a lot. I could feel that something was happening but sometimes it felt like I was just dreaming it up.

I received more jell at 10:05 am and at that time I was a looser 3. And they could feel the babies head. The nurse was surprised. I was having very subtle/normal contractions.

So, I laid there for an hour then walked for an hour. This time I felt heavy pressure and I could feel strong contractions from my belly into my legs.

At 12:18 I was monitored. I was having contractions every 4 1/2 minutes. If I remember correctly I couldn't really feel these contractions. At this point I remember just feeling frustrated that we were still "just waiting around". I can't stand just sitting around, waiting. I just really wanted something to do. I am used to being on my feet moving around, I don't have any good sit down hobbies.

At 12:30 they checked again and I was still dilated to a 3 and 50% effaced. At this point more jell.

So, I lay for an hour, and walk for an hour. I ate a slice of pizza and fruit.

2:45 I am still dilated to a 3 and my cervix is softer. They call to ask the doctor what to do next.

3:30 I am given an IV and they start the pitocin. I am still going crazy wishing I had something to do. Nurse laughs and says as soon as this baby is born you will not be bored at all.

4:45 Doctor comes to visit. He says that he can't break the water yet because the baby is too high up. He will return in an hour after he delivers another baby by c-section.

5:15 I am having contractions every 3 minutes.

Emma left

6:15 Doctor is back, he broke my water. I felt great relief when the water was broke. But I also had in the back of my mind the memory of the pain that comes after the water breaks. And the pain did come!

7:00 I was in a lot of pain. I asked the nurse how long she figured it would be. She checked how far dilated I was. I was at a 5. She said she would check again in a half an hour to an hour and I was thinking I just can't handle this pain for another one to two hours. I needed an epidural if it would take another one to two hours.

I asked for the dreaded epidural.

7:15 I was checked again. I was now at a 7 or 8. The nurse asked if I still wanted the epidural. My thought was, "Yeah, if I am going to be in this much pain for so much longer, then yes I want it! Duh!"

I guess at this point I was just yelling. I was not myself at all.

So, at 7:15 the epidural lady comes in to give me the epidural. I sit up and I am having a really BAD contraction. She tells me to arch my back and get ready for the needle. I tell her to wait until my contraction is over. I didn't say it sweetly I was yelling and she yelled back that if I am going to move that she won't give me an epidural. I said, "Just wait." Matt jumps in and says, "I think what she is saying is that she wants you to wait till the contraction is over." The lady says, "I know, but I will not do this if she moves, we need to do this now." The sad thing is she was not even prepared to give me the epidural, she was still getting set up.

About half way through getting the epidural I felt like I needed to push. So, I screamed 'naturally' telling them that the baby is coming, can I move. Everyone yells, "NO!" I started to get really hot, I ask to have my socks off. Then I was shocking myself I wanted to take the robe off, in the middle of getting the robe off the epidural lady finally finished at 7:20.

I lay down, his head is crowning. They are telling me not to push. Doctor was called while we were doing the epidural.

We can't wait for the doctor, another doctor is in the hall and she comes in. Now I am being yelled at to push because they are worried about shoulder distorsia. So I am pushing as hard as I can without a contraction to help. Matt says that when I pushed it was so powerful that he was half out. When they pulled him out the rest of the way it was the strangest thing, I could feel arms, legs, elbows and knees. I have never felt that with my other kids.

Oh, I forgot to say, he was born at 7:21, yep, when I laid down he was born in just one minute.

Bryan was put on my chest, he didn't cry, just whimpered. I too was whimpering, it was just too traumatic for the both of us. I have some really good pictures of the two of us right after he was born but, I don't feel that they are Internet worthy, I was not being very modest.

Bryan was just so quiet. His little face was bruised from being born so fast.

So, here he is:

Bryan Matthew Hardy

7 pounds 3 ounces

20 inches long

head 13 inches

chest 12 1/2 inches

Here we are in our room that we stayed in for 2 nights and 2 days.

I couldn't wait to go home.

This is the first time any of my babies were content with breast milk while we are still in the hospital. Just after nursing.

I did give him a bottle the second night just because I was flat and he was still wanting food.

Emma

She didn't want a new kid in the house.

But for some reason, I think she likes him.

David

He is such a proud big brother.

He is just in awe of Bryan.

Abby

She could barely contain herself.

She loves him so much she is always wanting to hold him.

Jacob

came in and saw me, his eyes lit up.

Then he saw Bryan, he came up to my lap and became Bryan's protector. No one was allowed to touch him, no one was allowed to take his hat off or look at his feet or fingers.

He was very concerned about the umbilical cord.

Then when Jacob had full control of everyone he couldn't stop saying how cute Bryan is.

Now almost two weeks later,

Jacob is still saying that Bryan is so cute and he has to kiss and rub Bryan's head all the time.

Bryan needs a bath because of Jacob.

I was so happy to see his tongue stick out as far as it is.

However when he nurses on my right side it hurts so bad, like when Jacob would nurse, (Jacob was tongue tied, and I would cry or be close to crying every time he would nurse.)

So I figured that Bryan's tongue is good.

I figured that nursing hurt so bad because he has such a little mouth.

When we went to the doctor she said, "Oh, it looks like he tongue is pretty tight."

So, I am not sure what to think now.

He is getting better with nursing.

He is learning that he needs to open his mouth BIG if he wants milk.

It isn't hurting as bad.

I love this picture of him

With that cute little hand.

So, there you have it. Probably more information than you wanted.

Emma did make it back to the room, but she didn't make it till he was put under the warmer. She said that she saw blood and that it was really gross, so she just stayed next to Bryan and oooed and awed. She didn't want to look at me. Yet she was sad that she missed "Bryan coming out of me." She says, "maybe next time mom."

Humbled

Christmas 2010

We had a visitor come a little early this year.

He came bearing gifts from ward members.

More than the gifts we have felt an overwhelming feeling of love.

Back in November we received a call from our Elders Quorum President asking if they could buy some gifts for our family. He said, let me know about two or three items each of your children would like.

So, we wrote the list. We asked that two of the items for each kid be clothes, and then one toy each. If we had the money to buy Christmas presents this year that is probably all we would have done. We try to keep it simple.

When Santa came, we were shocked at the amount that was brought.

We were humbled that others cared about us to do so much.

Believe me when I say we feel so loved.

We would like to thank everyone for making this Christmas a very memorable Christmas.

The kids were so fun to watch.

They were bouncing off the walls with excitement.

Then they just stood there staring at all of the gifts.

David asked Emma to slap him in the face.

Emma did.

Papa was about to correct her behavior until he found out David asked.

David just could not believe that Santa had come and that he was given so much.

They kept saying, "we must be the best kids ever!"

In my eyes, it isn't the presents, it is the love that has been felt.

Thank you.

There was a gift bag that was not covered.

It had 4 dresses in it.

I picked up the first dress.

The one that is pictured above.

The hanger had Cinderella written on it.

I felt like this was a fairy tale, I couldn't hold it in any longer.

I began to cry.

I can't even imagine the price on this dress. It is beautiful.

Jacob saw me crying.

I pulled myself together and Jacob asks me to cry some more.

For some reason he really wanted me to cry.

Emma naturally thought that a dress so beautiful would be hers.

She tried it on, and while it looked nice and seemed to fit her well.

It wasn't hers.

Abby puts it on and dances with Jacob.

Emma puts on another dress and dances with David.

Like a fairy tale.

David Just couldn't believe all that was his.

Emma's dress.

At this point we felt like our living room was overrun with gifts.

But then two days later...

We had two groups of people show up. With baby shower gifts.

(A Sister from church asked if I would like her to throw me a baby shower. I said no because I don't like the attention.)

She was the first one to show up. As she was walking in the door, she said, "I don't take "no" for an answer, so I brought the baby shower to you."

She had me open one of the bags of gifts right then.

About 5 or 10 minutes later we had some more people show up to bring more.

Just from the "baby shower" we received,

865 diapers

1600 wipes

blankets

outfits

cloths for the older kids

shampoo's

tooth paste

tooth brushes

soaps

razors

and so much more.

I feel so overwhelmed.

Sometimes I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

My emotions are WAY out of whack already!

I wish that I could thank everyone individually for their kindness.

A lot of the gifts were given anonymously.

I am truly grateful.

I hope that one day soon we as a family can do this same kind of thing for others.

Teach the Children the True Meaning of Christmas

For Christmas this year I really wanted to make it Christ centered. I always want to make it Christ centered but this Christmas more so because we can't afford presents for the kids and I wanted them to know the true meaning of Christmas.

So, we put together a Christ centered tree using an advent calendar.

It turned out to be truly rewarding.

This is our tree after our project was complete.

Last year my Mom made this advent calender for me.

It is a muffin tin with cut out and decorated magnets covering each muffin hole.

The magnets were originally made for the larger muffins but all I had was a small muffin tin containing 24 spaces. It works, however I would suggest using the larger muffin tin because you will have lots more room.

Here are a couple spots uncovered.

Our tree empty...

1st night: Fir Tree: Evergreen--the second color of Christmas shows everlasting life. The needles point heavenward.

Okay, tilt your head till I can figure out how to rotate this:

2nd night: Red: The first color of Christmas symbolizing the Saviors Sacrifice for all.

3rd night: Candy cane: The shepherd's crook used to bring lambs back into the fold. --A reminder that we are all our brothers keeper.

4th night: Bells: Rings out to guide lost sheep back to the fold. --signifying that all are precious in the eyes of the lord.

5th night: Wreath: A symbol of the never ending eternal nature of love... having no beginning and no end.

6th night: Gift bow: Tied together in bonds of goodwill forever.

7th night: Lights/candle: A mirror of starlight reflecting our thanks for the Star of Bethlehem. Helaman 14:3,4

8th night: Animals: Luke 2:7

9th night: Mary and Joseph: Luke 2:4

10th night: Christ was born: Luke 2:7

11th night: Angels: Luke 2:13,14

12th night: Shepherds and sheep: Luke 2:7-17

13th night: The Star: Matthew 2:2 and Helaman 14:5

14th night: Three wise men: Matthew 2:1,11

Other nights I would have us do service for others like,

Go

caroling,

make cookies

and take to others.

We would also,watch a

movie together, tell each other

why you love them, go to kids school

Christmas program, go to church party.

There are so many things that can be done.

I am not sure I like how I have it set up, however

we will be continuing this tradition next year and I

am

sure I will change some

things with it next year.

We had a wonderful Christmas.

I hope I can write more

before this little baby comes.

Praying for the job

So, Pa has applied for a job that "fits him like a glove". He has put together his online portfolio in record time. Let me just say that he has been working on that for a very long time and it just hasn't been coming together like he would like it to. But it has come together and it looks great!

So this job is in Provo Utah, I know it is far away. But, I also know that Provo has 4 seasons! The job looks like a place he would be very happy at.

I have always felt that things will just fall into place. I currently feel like we would have this baby and then we would find a job and we would be able to move. I feel like we are close very close.

So, we are asking that the power of prayer will get us into this job and if not this one then the one that is just right for us. I know that prayers and positive thoughts work wonders.

Thanks.

Potty Training...

Potty training is a really hard thing to accomplish with some kids. One would think that by the time you get to your 4th child you would have it down and it would just be second nature.

This is not the case, at least not with Jacob and I.

We tried for quite some time, I think I started back in August 2010. So it has been more than 4 months of trying to be nice, sweet, tender, loving, frustrated, mean, angry, concerned.

Some kids just don't want to do it when you want them to.

So, I tried buying toys for him and every time he would go poop in the toilet he would get a new toy. He didn't do anything the first two days. But on the 3rd day we had a party because I didn't have to change any stinky undies. Then I think it was 4 or 5 days of clean underwear. Then the kid just got lazy again, I still had some great new toys in the basket, and he wanted them but he struggled. Hm!

After a few days of changing stinky undies I decided that if he continued to go poop in his undies then I would take a toy away. His reply was, "alright, mom." I would even take his most favorite toy and he would still reply, "alright, mom." He got into the routine of even getting me a toy to put in the "poop basket", and it would usually be a toy that he loved playing with that very day.

I was talking with members of the church and they kept telling me that if a parent goes to the temple they could ask specific questions about their children and they will receive answers. No matter how small the question may seem.

I thought I should really put this to the test. I really felt silly asking about how to potty train a 3 year old. But knowing that Heavenly Father loves us and knowing that he knows all of my frustrations and knowing that he wants us to come to him for all things. I felt that I had enough faith to know that he will be there for me and that he could really truly answer my prayer. So the question came out, "what should I do about Jacob and potty training?" I know that prayers need to be more specific, but I really didn't know what else to say.

The next day Jacob pooped in his undies, I went into the bathroom with him and was very sad that he didn't go in the toilet. Jacob was sad too because he was saying, "sorry mama, sorry." I felt like it was just a task that needed to be done. I was sad but very neutral with the situation.

As I started to change his diaper, I felt a whisper, "put him back in diapers." I thought, "really? I should put him in diapers again? What is that going to accomplish? He goes potty really well. And I know he can go poop in the toilet, he just has to want to." But the feeling came again, "put him back in diapers. A child should not poop in underwear and he thinks he can, so put him back in diapers." So, I did right at that very moment. I took all of his underwear out of his drawer, and I told him, "Jacob, you are going to wear diapers until you are ready to poop in the toilet. Poop goes in diapers not underwear." Of course he said, "alright, mom."

Jacob has been in diapers for one week now. He gets frustrated with the diapers, and he still goes potty in the toilet. He has gone poop in the toilet 2 times so far, but it wasn't much. He also got to get a couple of new toys.

Tonight we were talking about how his baby brother is going to be coming soon and we started talking about diapers for some reason, and Jacob said, "ew, I not a baby, I a big boy, I don't need diapers."

Boy oh boy do I hope that is true.

Dear Stomach Virus:

Please cycle through my family quickly.

Thanks.