Ruby 5 days old





Huge thanks to my niece, Shavan Flake for the great pics

Here are photos from the whole session:)
http://capturedbyshavan.blogspot.com/2011/12/121511.html

The Home/Water Birth of Ruby Jane

On Dec 1 and 2nd, we got 14 inches of snow overnight. Woke up and I thought “wouldn’t it be ironic if she came today, when the roads are bad?”

At 10:00 AM, on Friday Dec 2, 5 days after my Nov 27 “due” date, I noticed my water was leaking if moved a certain way. I called my midwife and let her know what was going on and she said not to worry, just make sure the fluid is clear and drink plenty of water because my body would be replenishing the fluid constantly. She also said to let her know when contractions start and she’ll be on standby until then.

The whole day went by and nothing happened but leaking fluids. I slept the whole night with fewer contractions than I’d been having the past 2 weeks. I was sort of frustrated wanting labor to begin. The next morning still nothing was going on and Tyler gave me a blessing to calm my nerves and give me peace. I know that if I were in a hospital, I’d be on a clock, so that bothered me a little bit. I called my midwife again that afternoon, now past the 24 hour mark of leaking fluids and she said she would come by and check vitals when she was in town at about 4:00 PM. She came over, said everything looked wonderful and that labor would begin when my body was ready and to have faith and let go of the doubts and fear. She also rubbed my legs with Cleary Sage Essential Oil, which could cause contractions if my body was ready and went home.

By 5:00, I was having labor contractions, although they were 10-15 min. apart. At about 6:00 they seemed closer so Emma started timing them for me and they stayed at a 5-8 min apart pattern for 2 hours. They were lasting about 30-45 seconds and a couple, even a minute long. So, at 8:00 I called my midwife just to let her know things were happening even though it was still early and she said since it was snowing, she’d head over now just to be safe and before it got any later. My parents came over and my dad took my kids home to sleep and my mom stayed to witness the birth.

My midwives, arrived at 9:00 and I was still having them consistently about every 5 minutes. They checked vitals and found I was dilated to a 4 and 90% effaced. We visited, looked at my maternity pictures on Facebook and hung out during contractions.

About 10:30 I realized they were becoming sharp and Tyler was timing them 2-3 min apart. I told him to fill up the Jacuzzi tub, because I was getting in! Once I was in, it relieved some of the pressure and weight and felt much better. They were still very painful of course, but I was able to relax. They continued and Tyler would push on my lower back through each one and then I would visit with him and the midwives in between. It was the joke that while I was having a contraction, all was silent and then as soon as it was over, I’d look up and finish the conversation where it left off. One of the midwives would say “and she’s back”. Ha.

They monitored the babies heart rate occasionally, during a contraction and in between, and it was always steady and doing beautifully. At somewhere around 12:30, I was checked, and I was now dilated to a 6. I felt the contractions one right after the other now and they were the dreaded transition contractions. I started to moan through them and barely got a breath between each one but after only about 15-20 min or so, I had a strong need to push during one of the contractions, and when I pushed, my water completely broke. Then, while waiting for the next contraction I asked the midwives if I could go ahead a push if I had the urge again. They said yes so on the next contraction, I had the undoubted feeling and need to push with all my strength so I yelled “I’m pushing!” and one of the midwifes felt really fast and said I was complete and I could keep pushing. Out came her head, right there in the water! It was 1:02 AM! I was so excited I almost forgot to finish pushing. I was touching her head and totally amazed. Next contraction came a couple minutes later and I pushed again and the rest of her body came almost floating out and I caught her and pulled her to my chest. She was very calm so I rubbed her feet and kissed her head and she started to cry and turn pink immediately. They gave me warm towels and I started right away to see if she would nurse. She latched right on and nursed the whole time I delivered the placenta.

Then I handed our new baby girl out to Tyler (placenta still attached and in a bag) and then I got out, cleaned off and got on the bed and held my baby again. I nursed her some more (she was a hungry little munch!!) and Tyler tied and cut the cord. I had just a “skid mark” which I always get, so no stitches needed. I was just slightly lightheaded off and on, but otherwise I felt great! This was an amazing birth and having her in the water was a dream! She weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and was 20.5 inches long. Head was 13.5 inches. We chose the name Ruby Jane. Ruby is a name I loved since I was pregnant with Jacob, plus it is my birthstone, so in a way, she is named after me. Jane is one of Tyler's favorite girl names and we think it sounds cute with Ruby.



Right after getting out of the water





Right after getting weighed and dressed




After a couple hours of sleep (8 AM)

Update

I know I'm the worst blogger ever lately, but with surgeries, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and now Christmas quickly approaching, I just don't seem to get to my blog.

Emma had surgery on her right foot the beginning of August and on her left foot in October--the weekend after her 9th birthday. It has been quite an ordeal for her to "relearn" to walk. Apparently she is too cautious and underused her right foot especially so she is now on a 5 week stint of physical therapy, twice a week. The surgeries went well, her arches are now great (she has them), she has had virtually no pain (she only took 2-3 doses of regular strength Advil for each foot!!) But, being on crutches 10 days each time and then starting to walk again has been difficult for her. She is still limping:( Hopefully it gets better soon... Some pics from her b-day. She had one at Bits and Pizza with some friends and of course 2more with each side of the family. Isn't she cute and all grown up?:)





The kids loved Halloween this year. We went to the school carnival and also to our church trunk or treat. Levi got a real kick out of it all this year. Emma was a "spider princess" and Jacob was Hiccup and Levi was Toothless from "How to Train your Dragon". I made the boy's costumes and they looked pretty cute. Too bad I didn't get better pictures...




We had a great Thanksgiving at my parents house and also saw all of Tyler's family afterwards. We have so much to be thankful for and Tyler and I enjoyed having a long discussion on how much we have been blessed. We are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for what we feel is a pretty darn close to perfect life.

I broke down and did the Black Friday shopping this year for the first time too. (I've sent Tyler alone before, but have never gone myself). I was hoping it would put me into labor (no luck!). It was quite the experience. Can't say I enjoyed it or would do it again, but I figured as much. I hate crowds;) I did enjoy decorating for Christmas Friday and Saturday though!

And now, we wait (patiently?) for the arrival of our 4th sweet child. I had a due date of the 22nd and the 27th of Nov, so any way you say it, I'm overdue and feel very ready for a baby:) I look ready too, don't I?? (Taken on the 28th)

It's a....

Girl!!


We had our ultrasound on July 15 and found out we are having a girl! Emma is so excited! We all are, but she is especially happy because she wants a sister so much. Everything else looks good too and I'm ready to buy some pink!!

Summer is in full swing and we sure have been busy! And, I have taken no pictures! Between swim lessons, art class, golf lessons, karate for Jacob and finishing up baseball I've been running around like a taxi driver. We also try to visit the library and park weekly, and take a walk/bike ride daily. We've taken several family trips to the lake and Tyler and I went to Page for his work golf tournament and I also tackled potty training Levi in the middle of it all.

July is off to a good start! We have had so much fun seeing family, having BBQs and we enjoyed the 4th of July rodeo and fireworks as well. We are planning a big birthday bash for my mom and lots of fun activities to finish out the summer. I will do better with the pictures, and the blogging:)

In other news: I am 20 weeks pregnant and expecting #4 towards the end of November!! Yay!!

April

Levi turned 2! He sang "Happy Birday party to EE-I (levi) all day. He is a very polite child. He says thank you, with out fail, for everything. He seems to listen to what I say most of the time too. He says "I lub you mom" everytime he needs or wants something and also just to say it. He is very sweet. He is very descriptive when he talks. "I wear a red shirt", "I want blue cup", "my orange truck" ect and he usually wants his cup, plate ect to match his shirt. He also eats like no kid I've ever seen. All day long he is into the fridge or the pantry. We eat a meal (which he outeats both my other kids at) and 5 minutes later he's searching for cheese or cereal or turkey. He loves milk and water too. He loves his dad, Mema (emma) and Daydub (jacob) but always wants "Mommy do it" or "Mommy hold me" or "Mommy help me". He loves to play with trucks and balls and also loves to color. Sometimes on things he shouldn't (like my couch).








Emma also had a piano recital in April. She has enjoyed practicing most of the time and loves her sweet teacher. She played her recital pieces perfectly and did a cute little curtsy at the end:)

March

We all had these cool green shirts for St Patty's day so I had to take a pic;) I had parent teacher conferences with the kids teachers today, and Emma also had her science fair. She was chosen to present it in front of the whole 2nd grade and she did such a great job. The project was on water conducting electricity and he dad helped her make a really cool project with a switch and lightbulb and everything. I somehow didn't get a picture of it, but she did a great job. Both of the conferences went great too. Emma is reading on a 5th grade level and had 100% on every spelling test. Reading and spelling are her best subjects with A+, but the A's she got in everything else is nothing to complain about either:) Jacob has passed everything he needs to enter 1st grade and I was told he is a great student too. I really is smart, he just doesn't sit as still or as quite as Emma so I worried about him some. He is doing wonderfully though too. I am so happy for them both.




Baseball practices also started for them both! The games will not begin until the first of May but they have both started practicing with their team. 1st year of machine pitch for them both!