Our Story

Wednesday June 13th was one of the hottest days I have experienced in Santa Rosa. Earlier in the week we learned that our home, as well as many others in Sonoma County, does not have air conditioning. We had the missionaries over for dinner and cooking just added to the heat. Later that night Ammon discovered ants in our living room so Jody and I spent an hour cleaning, vacuuming and spraying. I was on a mission to get rid of the nasty buggers. So much that I think it may have put me in labor. Around eleven I took a cold shower and went to bed. When I woke up at 1:00 to use the restroom I began noticing pretty frequent contractions. I tried to go back to sleep and ignore them but they didn't stop and were coming every 6 to 8 minutes. I started getting nervous because I was told that the baby would probably come very quickly and I still had to drop the boys off at a friends house. But I also wasn't sure if this "was it." So I woke Jody up and told him what was happening. He seriously became one of those hilarious husbands within seconds. He jumped up and nervously got dressed, started getting things together and got the kids in the car. It was funny because I wasn't even sure if I was ready to go to the hospital but he made that decision for me. We dropped the boys off at our friends house at three in the morning. Ammon was super excited because he wanted to play with her dog. Luckily he got in bed and fell asleep quickly.

When we got to the hospital the nurse checked me and I was four centimeters but contractions weren't getting harder or closer together. We walked the hospital for an hour and again nothing changed. Luckily my doctor let me stay and then broke my water in the morning. I got an epidural an hour after she broke my water and then waited to see if I would start contracting more on my own. About noon my contractions started coming more frequently and stronger. Of course I couldn't feel them but I could see them on the monitor. I was afraid that the epidural would wear off like it did with Cohen. Fortunately I was given a button to push if I wanted to up my dosage every twenty minutes. Once I realized that I was getting closer I pushed the button every twenty minutes.

The nurse checked me around 1:30 and I was 7 centimeters. Around 2:30 I was 8 and then I fell asleep for an hour and when she rechecked me at 3:30 she said, "There she is. Her head is right there and I can see her dark hair!" Jody jumped out of bed and sure enough saw her head. Then the nurse asked me to push a tiny bit to see how much it would take for me to push her out. As I started pushing she quickly told me to stop and not to cough or laugh. The doctor showed up about five minutes later and I seriously pushed two times and she was out! It was the easiest and best labor I have ever had.

Remember how nervous I was for the after labor contractions? Well my nurse hooked me up with pain medication every 3 hours and Ibuprofen every 6 and my contractions were much more bearable.

Rylee was born at 3:45, weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. and was 19 1/4 inches long. Yes I've had two other children but giving birth is such a miracle. There is nothing like having a baby move and grow in your belly for nine months and then see them in person for the first time. What a blessing it is to have three beautiful, healthy children.

Captain Jack Sparrow

Ammon turned 4 years old on Saturday. We drove back to McKinleyville and had a Pirates of the Caribbean party with all of his friends. He LOVED seeing everyone at his party. I had fun making his treasure chest cake. The boys stayed with my parents for the rest of this week. I miss their hugs and kisses but am enjoying this relaxing time to sleep, clean, organize, and get to know sweet Rylee.

Rylee is doing great. She is a wonderful nurser and spends the entire day sleeping. She's also been sleeping pretty good a night. She loves her carseat. On the way back home yesterday she slept until we were only 15 minutes away from home. I feel bad but she pretty much sleeps in her carseat during the day and night. She doesn't like her bassinet and her room is too far away for me to put her in her crib. Nights are getting better. Last night she slept from 11:30 to 4 and then from 4:30 to 7:15. Not too bad for a girl that sleeps all day.

Ammon learned how to ride his bike last week! It is so adorable and he is super proud of himself.

Cohen wants to say and do everything Ammon does. This is why he has the helmet on and is also trying to ride his bike. He is the funniest kid!

5 days old

Time is already flying by, which right now is a good thing because I can't wait for her to start sleeping better at night. She actually did pretty good last night. I'm just trying to figure her out. Like what position she sleeps best in. So far I have pretty much put her next to me in bed at night. Jody freaks out but hello he's not the one getting up at night! She pretty much sleeps all day long. I don't know what I will do when my mom isn't staying with us. Luckily she is taking the boys next week and then we will meet them at the lake for the following week. Hopefully by then I will start getting her into a routine. This is the hardest part of having a newborn. My mom has been such an angel to me. She gets up with the boys every morning, feeds them breakfast, bathes them, and then takes Rylee so that I can catch a few more zzzz's. She also helps with poopy diapers, holding the baby and prepares meals. I wish I could have her for at least the next few months. When I looked in the back of my car today and saw three car seats it finally hit me, I have three kids, in car seats! How old am I again?

It's 9:30 and everyone is in bed so I think I will try to get to sleep early tonight. We are going to Corte Madre tomorrow to shop and then to the Petaluma Outlets so I need to be rested up. I promise my next blog will share our birthing story, it was amazing.

Yo quiero a mi papa!

In honor of Father's Day!

First sponge bath given by grandma.

She's down to 7.4 but my milk just came in so that should change soon.

Ammon is still loving his lil sis. We hadn't taken her leg band off from the hospital yesterday and he was trying to get it off. My mom told him that we would probably have to cut it off. He looked at her in horror and said, "cut her leg off?" Pretty cute. I'm off to take a nap but promise to give details of the labor and delivery soon.

Rylee Alexandra

Her brothers giving her hugs.

Ammon is very proud to have a little sister. When he held her for the first time he said,"Hi Rylee, I'm your brother Ammon. I'm going to take care of you."

Our beautiful baby girl was born June 14th at 3:45 p.m. I had the best labor and delivery (details to follow). She weighed 7.10 and has black hair in back with not much on top. We thought she looked just like Ammon at first but now think she's a mixture of the two. She has round cheeks and a double chin. I love having a little girl! We just got home tonight and are doing great.

update

I went to the doctor this afternoon. She said that she could almost stretch me to 4 centimeters (sounds disgusting I know) and I am now 70% effaced. I asked her about inducing and things of that nature and she said that she thinks I will go into labor on my own with the way I have already progressed. But if I don't we will talk about it next week. It's kind of weird that I am almost halfway there and am not even in labor. But this is how it was with Cohen too. Hopefully I will have a good experience again. I just want to get my epidural!

I got my hair colored and cut this evening, so at least it will look good when I give birth! It is so refreshing to get rid of roots and damaged ends. I'm so happy to have found someone that can do my hair the way I want it on the first try.

My good friend and old roommate Melissa had her first child, a baby girl, yesterday! I am so happy for her. Now I am just waiting to hear that Aubree has had her little boy. Then it will be Rylee's turn . We'll see. It's winding down.

backyard fun

Ammon has been going to swimming lessons every morning and he loves it! I also bought a little pool and water table on Saturday. They both spend hours in the backyard now. Cohen decided to get in the table with all of his clothes on. I couldn't help but laugh!

So still no baby. But last night we went to bed around midnight and I woke up at 1:00 a.m. with excruciating back pain (seriously wanted to vomit) and 3 or 4 contractions every hour. I was also having menstrual like cramping and could not get comfortable. I kept waiting for it to get worse or go away but neither happened. I was in and out of sleep all night, getting up to go to the bathroom seriously about every 30 minutes! Jody got up around 5:00 to use the bathroom and I told him what had been going on. Then he couldn't sleep because he was too excited. I finally got a decent amount of sleep from then until about 7:30. Almost every morning Ammon gets in bed with us. This morning I vaguely remember him rubbing my back for about twenty minutes! How cute is he? He didn't even know what a horrible night I had. Luckily Jody got up with the boys and fed them breakfast. We were both worried when it was time for him to go to work because he had a lunch meeting with a doctor in Clear Lake, at least an hour away and debated cancelling it. About 10 minutes after he left, I started feeling better. So what was it? Well I am still having random contractions but my back feels 90% better. Hum... maybe she's just getting ready.

Me in all my hugeness at almost 39 weeks.

Recipes

I posted two of the recipes from my cooking class on Tastes of Home, a recipe blog which I am now a contributor on. I will post more soon.

Still no baby but I have had random contractions through out the last few days. I know she is getting ready but hopefully she won't come until next week. Ammon's been talking to her and telling her that he wants to see her. I just ordered her carseat today. I need a few days so that I have something to bring her home in!

me time

I just love having things planned that I can look forward to. It breaks up the monotonous days of my life. Last week my mom and I were walking around a little shopping center in Santa Rosa and stopped in Sur La Table. My mom happened to notice that they do cooking classes and saw a great one that is actually happening tonight. She was bummed that she wouldn't be here to go to it so I decided to do it myself and get the recipes for both of us and all of you! It was regularly $62 but they were having a 2 for 1 special. I talked the guy into letting me do it for half price because I am new in town and don't have any friends here. The menu sounds delicious and the only item missing is dessert!

MENU: Root Beer BBQ Sauce - BBQ Chicken Salad - Smoky Baked Beans - BBQ Tri-Tip with Caramelized Red Onions - Dr. Pepper Baby Back Ribs

In other news.... I had my weekly checkup today and the doctor says that I am 3 centimeters dilated, 50% effaced, and the baby's head is at a zero station. Ah! I am getting scared. She said not to go anywhere, when I start having contractions DO NOT wait around because this baby will come quickly and that I could have her anytime. I'm so scared! So I decided I better get my bags packed as well as my boys bags packed. Hopefully she won't be born until my mom gets home from visiting my sister. Luckily we have one friend in town who has offered to let us drop the boys off at her house anytime of day or night.

We also have lots of visitors this week. My dad is coming tonight or tomorrow night, one of my oldest friends, Celeste, is staying the night tomorrow on her way up to Eureka, and my mom will stay on Saturday night when she gets back from Kasey's. If I go into labor when any of those people are staying the night I will have babysitters! I love visitors. Anyone is welcome anytime!

Home Sweet Home

I love living in a house. I have woken up each morning since we moved in with the hugest smile on my face. I feel like it's too good to be true. I love the space, the lighting, bathrooms, high ceilings, bedrooms, closets, garage, backyard, front porch. What's not to like?


Saturday was a very long day. I don't know what I would have done without my mom. She cleaned, organized, unloaded, unboxed, decorated, shopped and helped with the kids (just to name a few). With her help I was able to decorate a lot of the downstairs. As you can see Ammon was also a big help with packing and unpacking. I am so happy with the way everything is turning out and I love our new couches and table. The pictures don't do them justice. I'm glad that I made it through the weekend without going into labor.

Now I am trying to get as much done as I can before this baby comes. I only have the kids rooms left to organize and decorate.

Today I bought my first pack of newborn diapers (for Rylee) and can't believe I will be using them so soon. I am trying to relax and enjoy a few more nights of sleep but I think mother nature is getting me prepared. I get up at least three times a night to use the bathroom and often wake up around 4 or 5 just to lay in bed tossing and turning for an hour before I fall asleep again. Tomorrow is my weekly check up so I will let everyone know if I am dilating. I kind of hope I'm not. I'm not quite ready for labor, pain and everything else that is going to come with giving birth. This is the front living area. We haven't done much with it yet. The other half is Jody's office.