Sweet Abigail

You know you're no longer pregnant when:

 

10. You recognize your own face in the mirror.  (No more swelling, yay!)

9. You're spending less than half your day in the bathroom.

8. You marvel at how good it feels to walk around, and you actually want to go places.

7. You can eat whatever you want without indigestion.

6. You don't eat whatever you want because weight gain is no longer justified.  :)

5. Your three year old seems enormous.

4. Your shoes fit.

3. So do your fat pants.

2. Your son says, "Why does your chest look so tall now?"

1. Most of your photos have a baby in them. 

 

Here are the first two weeks' worth of baby photos.  These are a mix of pictures from my phone and camera, and in whatever order blogger felt like loading them onto my page. 



The dog decided he needed to be VERY protective of the baby as soon as we brought her home.  In this picture he's attempting to get between her and the kids.  We very quickly had a problem with him growling and snapping at the kids (and sometimes me) when he thought they were too close to Abby.  Thankfully, I recalled a trick a friend had used to train her dog, so we tried it.  He was cured in five seconds.  All we did was put some dry beans in an old disposable water-bottle.  When he misbehaved we shook it at him.  He has become VERY obedient ever since.  Yay for simple solutions!

This was her going home from the hospital outfit.

Her first ride in the car-seat.  She didn't mind at all.

A new outfit from Jim's mom.

My new favorite picture.  She didn't want to wake up yesterday; every time we touched her she'd move into a new adorable pose.

It's taken me longer to feel well than after my other babies, but I'm finally getting there!  I think I was a lot more tired initially because of the blood loss, and then I know I was having a hard time because of a kidney infection.  I am very grateful for antibiotics right now!  I'm good and healthy finally, and Abby is even sleeping well at night.  She has been very content these two weeks; we're really enjoying this sweet little angel.   

Childhood

Annie practically lives in this play dress I made her.  She feels so pretty.

I have no idea why Alex was sitting on Annie, but they're cute.

Real life quote from Alex, "Me saving you Annie!"  And just now as he's watching me create this post, "You got picture me saving Annie!"

I woke up from a nap one day to discover the very image of childhood.  I love this girl!

Logan realized recently that he could submit his own true stories to the Friend magazine, and he's been bugging me ever since to help him do it.  We finally did the other day.  Here's my happy boy posing for a picture to go along with it.

And my favorite picture for last: Everyone except Annie chose to take a nap one day last weekend.  She was rather whiny about the fact that no one would play with her; we could tell she was tired.  Towards the end of everyone's naps this is how we found her.

Belly Button

I took these pictures specifically for Jim's dad who has a phobia of belly buttons, and for my brother, Josh, who has a passion for his own.

She's Here!

 

We are happy to present:

 

Abigail Louise
April 12, 2013, 6:07pm

8 pounds, 8.5 ounces

20.5 inches 

 

 

We arrived at the hospital yesterday morning to be induced.  We made the decision for a fourth induction after considering various factors; ultimately we determined that there was very little risk in waiting longer and very little risk in being induced.  We were impatient and I was overdue, so we went for it.  

Here's the big fat ugly pre-labor picture that we always take.  (Maybe I'll use this as a 'before' picture for losing weight...at least 10 pounds down already...woohoo!)

They didn't start my Pitosin until 10am, so I was worried she wouldn't be born until fairly late.  All three of the other kids took 12 hours from the time they started the Pitosin.  I was glad to get started though.  The first few hours were uneventful; it always takes about 3 hours for the contractions to get started for me.  Thankfully my nurse was fantastic!  At this hospital a labor nurse is assigned to only one patient, and she stays in the room the entire labor when it's being induced.  It was so nice to have her right there to constantly adjust my monitors, and especially to visit with.  We had a nice visit during the first boring hours.  My doctor broke my water around 12:30, and the contractions finally increased in strength and speed around 1:00. 

I requested my epidural at 2:30; I'm glad I didn't wait longer because things were progressing rapidly and the anesthesiologist had several patients in front of me!  By the time he had my epidural in at 3:30 I was REALLY grateful for the relief!  We had a nervous moment shortly after that because there was an indication that there was a block somewhere in my epidural.  I didn't want anything to go wrong with that!  Thankfully, the anesthesiologist came back and figured it out without having to redo it.  I must say that epidurals are one of the most wonderful inventions ever!  (And I can understand how easy it could be to become addicted to drugs.)  I'm so grateful I could have that relief for the last part of my labor and for the delivery.  At 5:30 I was surprised and excited to feel it was time to deliver the baby.  That was 4 hours faster than my other babies!  My doctor arrived around 6:00 and little miss Abby joined us in four contractions.

She's our biggest baby yet, beating out Logan by 2.5 ounces.

I managed to nurse her immediately after her birth, but had to give her to Jim promptly after that because I wasn't feeling well.  I lost a fair amount of blood with her delivery (more than I ever have before) and I was extremely weak.  I was shaking rather violently and couldn't stop for a while.  That was a really miserable experience and scared me a bit.  Thankfully Jim was able to give me a Priesthood blessing when we found ourselves alone for a minute, and the nurses were able to help me stop shaking.  We decided not to have the kids come see me and the baby last night because I was feeling so poorly.  I'm so glad Abby was content during that time since I didn't feel strong enough to hold her.

I tried hard to drink and eat a lot right away to get my strength back, and Jim stayed the night with me since I was so weak.  Sometime in the middle of the night I really did feel better, plus Abby was awake most of the night, so I was finally able to enjoy her (at the expense of sleep).  She is so sweet!  I feel so close to my Heavenly Father when I hold this little angel, and I'm in awe that He has entrusted me with four of His sweet children.  Babies are such miracles.  Abby is so pure and perfect.  I'm so glad she's ours!

This morning I was excited to get cleaned up and in my own clothes.  I seriously anticipated it all night!  :)  I always feel so much better once I can do that.  Today was no different.  Jim and I had some nice time alone with Abby right before the kids came to see her.  I love these pictures that I captured of Jim holding her. 

Here I am finally able to enjoy my little angel!

We are so grateful to our friend who watched the kids yesterday and overnight!  She brought them to us this morning so they could finally meet their new little sister. 

I'll have to get a better shot of Annie holding her...I didn't realize it was blurry at the time.

Our FOUR kids!  I don't feel old enough to have four kids already!

Alex was so excited to hold the baby.  The first thing he said to me was, "Baby Gabby came out your tummy!"  He's been talking about her coming out of my tummy for months.  I bet he thought it was never going to happen!  He's so funny about calling her 'Gabby'.  He even corrected a nurse today when she called her Abby.  When he tries to say Abigail it comes out 'Gabbybell'...so cute.

He gave her lots of kisses.

The kids were also really excited about getting a treat at the hospital.  They remembered from our tour that the nurse said they could have ice cream and popsicles as much as they wanted.  :)

Abby was rather fussy while they were here this morning, so they didn't stay very long.  Jim headed home with them, and will be back in a little while to have dinner with me.  Abby and I had some good rest all afternoon; it was nice to be quiet.

Our sweet little angel.  I think she looks most like Alex did at birth.  She's definitely one of ours.  :)

Kids Say

Annie was asking me about her friend's mom who is quite thin and fit, "Is her mom nice and pregnant?"

I woke in the middle of the night to hear Annie yelling, "I want a house!"

Annie, "You're a forgetter girl, Mom."

Annie complaining that she didn't have enough water in the bathtub, "That makes me feel like a BRAT!" 

Annie opening her new birthday clothes, "Was it on clearance?"

Annie, "If you need to laugh that means you're thinking.  Keep thinking and if you laugh it's still okay."

Our clothes dryer went out a couple of weeks ago, so we were hanging clothes to dry until we replaced it.  Alex upon feeling his stiff air dried underwear, "They are FROZEN!"

Annie's interpretation of being asked to get her own paper towel and take Logan his water bottle, "Mom says I have to do EVERYTHING!"

Logan, "I'm lifting the whole thing of Dad by myself!"  Then Annie noticing I was writing that down, "Do the posterity thing!"  (We have a joke that I'm texting their posterity when I record the funny things they say.)

Background for this next one: Our family standard is something we've created that outlines our family's rules for conduct, media, modesty, relationships, etc.  We often remind the children about what is in it so they can understand our rules and why we have them.  So the kids were wrestling with Jim and Annie was sitting on his head (see her birthday post for a picture) when Logan shouts out, "Family Standard: No sitting on Dad's face...or Mom's!!!"

Alex pouting because he dropped his cookie and the dog got it, "Me is MAD at Wicket!"

Logan spinning in circles, "It's like I'm on a CD!"

Alex looking at my pregnant belly, "Baby wet?"  Me, "The baby is swimming in my tummy."  Alex, "Baby Gabby (we're going to name her Abby) has swimsuit!" 

Logan after singing around the house all morning turned to Jim and pointed out, "You know, Dad, you're in a cheesy musical."

Still Pregnant

You know you've hit your due date when:

-You now need to use the restroom every 30 minutes.

-You don't even want to go to bed at night because it's so much trouble getting up and down.

-Your feet are so swollen that your Crocs and flip flops are too tight.

-Standing up is painful...everywhere.

-Your kids start asking if you'll ever take them anywhere again.

-Your dreams are ALL about going into labor.

-Your husband says with a laugh, "You are SO big!"

-Your belly touches the steering wheel of the car.

In case anyone is wondering, I am still pregnant.  I've officially made it to the due date.  :)  I was really hoping for a baby last week, but I keep reminding myself that I'm so blessed to carry my babies to term.  It's incredibly hard to move around right now, and it gets worse every day, but that just means the relief will be that much greater when she's born right? 

Anyway, based on my last doctor's appointment I'm doubting that I'll go into labor on my own, at least not within the time frame I'm comfortable with.  I honestly feel uneasy with allowing myself to carry past 41 weeks.  So I'm working my mind up to another induction.  I think we'll schedule that when I see my doctor again on Wednesday given that she doesn't arrive on her own before then.  I'm still hoping every minute of every day to go into labor, though.  Things can happen fast right?

 

Friday Fun

It finally feels like spring!  I loved all the snow this winter, but I'm happy to welcome the warmer weather now.  :)  On Friday we took advantage of this to have some family fun.  We planned to have a backyard campfire when Jim came home from work; the kids anticipated it ALL day.  The moment he arrived home they were begging him to start the fire.  Aside from a cool wind that was sending the smoke in all directions we really enjoyed ourselves.

 

We roasted hot dogs for dinner (fancy I know) and then s'mores for a treat.  The best part was sitting around the fire as a family, though. 

Fun times.  It makes me anticipate camping!