Keepin' Up With The Joneses: September 2014

I just realized I haven't updated my blog since before Charlotte was born, and she'll be 3 months this week! So bear with me because this is going to be a long post.

Aside from my recovery, these past few months have literally been pure bliss. Before we get into that, I want to take a little flashback to when Grayson was born. On Friday, October 23, 2009, I went to the doctor and was given some news I didn't want to hear - that I'd have to wait another week to meet my sweet little man. I was so big and uncomfortable and was just ready to be done. The next morning, Steve had been invited to go to the Utes game with my dad and brothers, but really didn't want to leave me and kept saying things like, "what if your water breaks?" and "what if you go into labor?" I assured him it wasn't going to happen and made him go to the game. They left extra early to do the mormon version of tailgating, and he hadn't even been there that long when he got a call from me saying, "You're gonna kill me, my water just broke". My Mom came to get me and then Steve took the trax, which has a stop directly in front of the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. After hours (and hours) of long labor and pushing, our stubborn little guy hadn't even budged - no progression whatsovever. He was also face up, and every time they tried to flip him over he just flipped right back, so I ended up having an Emergency Cesarian Section. Gray was born just after midnight on Sunday, October 25, 2009, and we quickly found out, he wasn't so little - he was a whopping 9 pounds, 11 ounces, and 22.5 inches long! No wonder he couldn't fit through the birth canal. Largeness aside, he was a healthy baby and that's all that mattered. In fact, they said he had the lowest bilirubin (jaundice) test they'd ever seen. I will never forget the love I felt that day, it's unconditional and a love I soon wanted to share with another child.

As many of you know, it took us about two and a half years to get pregnant this time around. But I can tell you, this little lady was well worth the wait...I found out I was pregnant on Saturday, October 5, 2013 and will never forget that day. It was conference weekend and Steve had gone with my dad and brothers to Priesthood session while my Mom and I took Gray to Gardner Village for dinner and shopping. On our way home, I had this feeling I should stop and buy a pregnancy test. I didn't tell anyone what I was doing in case it was just another negative result. And to my complete surprise, this one was positive! We were seriously in shock because every time I thought I had been pregnant in the past, I'd get a pregnancy test, take it with a negative result, and then start my period within hours of taking it. It was beyond strange. And every time my heart was crushed. I had been watching my friends through their pregnancies and while I was so happy for them, it was so devastating that I was having such a difficult time getting pregnant this time around. I spent so many nights in tears praying for another little one and on that day my prayers were finally answered. Early on, I expressed to my doctor that I wanted to try a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarian). I knew from the very beginning that there was a good chance that I'd need to have another c-section, but really, I mean REALLY, didn't want one. Dr. Stephen Terry, who by the way is the best OBGYN in Utah if not the Country (the man literally walks on water), told me it was possible to have a VBAC, but the baby would have to be on the smaller side and I'd have to go into labor on my own. I had 9 long months to sit and stew about having another c-section. It's a major surgery and a longer recovery time and something I just didn't want. The week before the baby was due they took me in for an ultrasound to get measurements of the baby to try and determine just how big she was. She was already measuring in the 8 pound range at that point and because I wasn't dialated or effaced, he told me the best option for me was to have the already scheduled c-section that following Wednesday. On the morning of June 11, 2014, we were asked to report to the hospital by 6:00am. We were so anxious to meet her that we were even there a little early. Oddly enough, I started having contractions the night before, go figure. While a huge part of me was anxious to meet our little lady, I was also petrified of having another c-section. I was a hot mess in the OR, just blubbering away on the table. The anesthesiologist saw how upset I was and thought it was because I was scared of the epidural and I was thinking, "nope, I'm scared of having my stomach cut open and my insides taken out....and then put back in." Having a cesarian section just isn't ideal, but it's the cards I was dealt and the two beauties I've gotten out of them were more than worth the pain and horrific recovery!

At 8:03 am on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, we received an angel fresh from heaven. She weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and was 21 inches long and she was (and still is) just perfect. I mean, the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. And I know my cute husband felt the same way. He was holding Charlotte and said to my Mom, "I am so in love with this girl. I'm going to have to tell Nicole she's got some competition". Steve is the best husband and father. I scored big time with him.

Just a forewarning, I'm posting photos from my surgery, so scroll past if you don't want to view them :)