Our new addition

Kali is here

I'm so excited to announce that Kali is here. What a crazy last few days. The number 1 thing people usually want to see is pictures so I will add some but I want to write my story down. Mostly just for reference sake and hopefully Kali will read it someday.

We planned on getting induced on Monday at 3am. I called the night before and they told me to call at 2am to see if they had an opening for me. At 2 am they said that they were full and that they would call about 8 if I hadn't heard from them then I could call back. Well I called at 8 and said they were getting a room ready but weren't there yet so hang tight. Well they finally called like 8:30ish and we got to the hospital about 9. We got paper work done and went back to our room where we would spend the next 32ish hours preparing to have a baby. They put me right on pitocin after getting an IV and I was on that till 1pm. Well my contractions were getting stronger but my cervix was really hard still so the doctor stopped pitocin and put a balloon in me for the next 12 hours. The balloon puts pressure on both sides of your cervix and has been found to be as effective as the gel that they normally use to induce labor but can't use on VBAC's because you have a greater chance of having your uterus rupture which is the number 1 thing that we DO NOT want to happen. Well I still had contractions all night anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes apart. When 1am came around they took out the balloon and started me on pitocin again. The balloon had done its job and the cervix had softened very nicely. I knew from that point on that I was in for the long hall so I tried to rest as much as possible while the balloon was in me and also just after they took it out. They slowly turned up my pitocin all morning long and my contractions just got harder and harder. About 11am my contractions were very intense and I started thinking I want an epidural. I had the nurse check me and she thought that I was only at a 2 and I just felt like crying...I was dieing and only at a 2. They finally came to give me an epidural and it took everything and I mean EVERYTHING I had to sit still enough for them to give it to me. The 1st one they did didn't work so I finally got a 2nd one and it helped with the pressure in my back and stomach that was so intense but it was NOT and I mean not helping the vaginal pain I was having. I was feeling much better than before and I really didn't want them to have to try again so I just dealt with it. Also the anesthesiologist told me that because I was trying to have a VBAC they needed me to feel enough that I could tell them if something was going wrong or if my incision was hurting. So I decided because it was helping I would just deal with it. Well I dealt with a lot of pain laying in bed from like 330 till I delivered about 5:15. The doctor finally numbed me when I started pushing and it was a good thing because it really helped. He had to give me an episiotomy as well so I'm glad I didn't have to feel that. But I couldn't believe when she was finally born. I pushed through about 3 or 4 contractions so like 12 pushes and she was here.

I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father that I was able to deliver her vaginally. I believe it was a true miracle. I feel my Doctor really didn't want to do it but I'm so grateful he supported me through it and did everything he could to help it happen. I know that he was inspired and that there were many people looking out for me and praying for me. While I was sitting in bed just waiting till they took my balloon out I could feel the spirit so strong and I'm so grateful to have Kali in our lives.

Blessings

It's amazing how you look at people differently and realized how blessed you are when you are going through a challenge yourself. I think sometimes the key to lives challenges is being able to get out of our own self pity to see your blessings.

*Just needed something to help me keep perspective...

40 weeks and 4 days, no baby

I'm 40 weeks and 4 days pregnant and I still haven't had a baby. I cannot tell you how many people have asked "You haven't had your baby yet?" I feel like saying well isn't that obvious? It also almost never fails that after they say...so is your Doctor going to induce you? Then I have to explain that originally my Doctor said he wouldn't induce me or else I'd have to have a c section which is what I had with Anna. Well today at my appointment my Doctor said that he doesn't like to go much past 41 weeks because chances of bad things happening go WAY up. Well he also said chances of having a v back after 42 weeks go way down. Now he said if it was him he would just do a c section, knowing what he knows, but he did give me the option of being induced. He said that if I am induced they can only use pitocin and they have to monitor me very close. If anything happens then I have to have a c section. Knowing all of this I will pray that I can figure out what is best and may decide to have a c section after months of anticipating trying to have a v back. The thought of this kills me inside yet I realize that we don't always get what we want in life and that sometimes we just have to be okay with what the Lord has blessed us with. Most importantly I realize that NO ONE CAN FIX THIS FOR ME! I know the Lord does work miracles but only when it is HIS will. This may be a challenge that I have to face and don't want to but somehow I will get through this.

It amazes me what people say to pregnant woman. I mean isn't it enough that:

-We have this huge belly that may look like we are carrying twins

-Yes we have a hard time sleeping

-Yes we have to use the bathroom often

-Yes it can be uncomfortable

-No I can't predict when I will go into labor

-No my baby hasn't dropped and probably won't till I'm in labor...

-Most importantly the only person that really knows when this baby will come is the Lord, so ask him and if you get an answer let me know cause he sure isn't letting me in on the secret...

-And NO I don't want a c section but well sometimes in life we just have to be okay with the things that we do have.

(Have any others you'd like to add?)

*But in all seriousness I really don't mind being pregnant. I guess my challenges are in other ways. I don't throw up everyday, I don't get horrible heart burn, I don't have a horrible time sleeping. (yes I get up to go the bathroom often and wish I could sleep longer but who wouldn't). She doesn't hang out in my ribs because I don't have a small torso. I'm very lucky I will admit. Now this time around I sure pray that it is easier to have a newborn because that was difficult. Between hormones that are whacked, trying to figure out nursing, worrying about my weight and the babies, and not understanding what all the babies signs are so therefore not knowing what to do when the baby cries. Feeling overwhelmed with everyone wanting to take your baby from you, whether you like it or not. These are just some of the reasons it was hard. I realize I will go through most of them again. I just pray I have the strength to go through all of that without going crazy...seriously! Or without having an emotional breakdown and saying things that I will regret. If I say anything stupid to any of you I'm truly sorry.

40 Weeks...REALLY?

So I am 40 weeks. I almost can't believe it. Is this really happening? Am I really going to have a baby? It's real, I know it, yet I believe reality won't sink in till she's here. Today as I'm sitting here thinking about myself I realized how incredibly blessed I am and wanted to write a short list to help me keep perspective,

-wonderful family

-amazing Husband (who honors his Priesthood, works hard, and is so patient with me!)

-loving daughter

-a car that works well

-Zach's job that makes it possible for me to stay home

-a great ward

-a baby growing inside me soon to come to this world

-and MOST IMPORTANTLY THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

*Thank goodness for moments that help us remember why all the small things happen in our lives and why the Lord's timing is always better than ours.

Anticipation

So I didn't get the opportunity to feel this kind of anticipation with Anna. She came a little over a week early and honestly I didn't think she would. So therefore I was semi prepared but emotionally I would say that I wasn't. Being a Mom is unlike any other thing that can happen to a woman. One day you wake up have a child and from that moment on you know that this is a VERY SPECIAL child of God that he has given to you to raise and to be it's MOTHER. I think about some of the great Mothers I know and I realize that of all the things I've wanted to be my whole life a Mother is #1. I believe being a Mother is one of the most important and sacred callings a woman can be given. Some woman have to work, others choose to and for them that is what works best. I have decided in my own life that being a full time Mother is what is best for me and my family. I hope that circumstances are such throughout my life that I can stay home.

Back to the anticipation thing though...wow can I just have a baby already? I mean yeah I kind of am okay letting her chill where she is but this moment of knowing whether or not I will have a c section has been on my mind since I had Anna pretty much. I feel peace knowing that the Lord is in charge yet I also am nervous knowing that any day I will have another child of God to take care of. Come on baby you can do it, we can do it! Lets all pray she comes soon.

Date night, and fun pictures

Zach and I decided that Friday was a great time for us to go on a date before this next baby comes. It was a really fun night! We went mini golfing, walked around Walmart a little and then had ice cream after. Seeing as it's still over 100 degrees no matter what time you are outside it felt nice to get ice cream. Check out those mad skills.
Golfing with this pregnant belly wasn't exactly my favorite...you see it kind of gets in the way.
Yes my face was red, it's hot okay. I pretty much never cool off, and we are golfing in 100 degree weather.
The other night I decided Anna needed her own little baby when we bring our baby home from the hospital so we went shopping. Found some really cute dolls, but Anna loved the big fluffy teddy bears, so I just had to get a few cute pictures! This one is a HORSEEE btw.
BEAR.....as Anna would say
Ohhhh...
Our little girl who's so grow up!
I decided I needed a few pictures of this BIG belly...Thank goodness I don't always have to pack this around.
One of Anna's favorite things to do, give BIG HUGS!
I love my MOMMY!~Seriously sometimes I think she might wear my name out, she only says it a million times a day.

Almost 38 weeks tomorrow and going strong. I wonder when I am going to have this baby. Sometimes I think I'm close yet other times I wonder if it's ever going to happen, lol...of course this baby has to come out sometime right?