Malachi -- Month 1

I didn't update my blog much with Noah.  I think I got to month 4 with him.  Poor guy...  His baby book looks about the same.  But I plan to do better with Malachi.  I regret not keeping up with Noah better -- you do forget much more than you think you will! 

1 week old

One month old

 

We have been SO blessed so far with a wonderful baby.  Not that he doesn't cry at all...because he does...but all in all, he is a very content baby.  Unlike with the boys, who had horrible nights at first, we have had very few bad nights.  Actually, none that I was up all night with him.  One night, close to the beginning, he was up about every 1.5 hours, but after a feeding, he went right back to bed.  And one morning this week, he was up at 4:30 and didn't want to go back to sleep...but that has been it.  He typically wakes up 1-2x a night...although sometimes I have to wake him up, more for my sake since I'm nursing.  He's longest stretch so far has been from 10-4ish...and that is when he decided to stay awake.  Can't have it all!  He normally goes to bed between 7:30-8:00, and I'll wake him up at 10:00 to eat, then back to bed.  He's SO easy to put back down.  Fingers crossed, it continues.  He still loves to sleep, although he is awake a little more during the day.  And he loves to nap on his tummy, although we swaddle him at night and put him on his back, and he seems to like it just fine.  He is just now growing out of newborn clothes and into 0-3 month.  But weight-wise, I really don't know.  The boys love love love him, of course.  And so does his mommy and daddy :)  

Malachi's Big Debut!

(FYI -- this is more for my memory sake!)  Malachi's due date was Sept 26.  Tristan came 5 days early, and Noah came 2 days late, so I was figuring Malachi would come sometime in the middle, close to his due date.  However, my Braxton Hicks had been so much stronger and frequent this time, I wasn't sure if he would stay that long.  Last Thursday (38 week, 5 days), I had a friend come over, and about 11:00,  I noticed that during our conversations that I had been contracting regularly, although they were not painful at all.  After she left, I started timing them, and they were consistently 5-6 minutes apart.  Again, not too concern, since they were not painful.  False labor is what I kept thinking.  I went ahead and sent Nate a text saying "Not to concern you, but I am having very mild, but consistent, contractions...but I'm sure it's not the real thing."  They continued throughout the afternoon, not changing in intensity, so I continued to brush it off.  I had already decided that I wanted a drug-free labor (I had epidurals with the boys...more on that later)...and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it!  Mom was supposed to get the boys in the morning and keep them overnight because I had a doctor's appt, and Nate and I wanted to go see War Room.  However, at 8:00 that night, I could tell the contractions were gaining slightly in intensity, and I was no longer convinced that Malachi wouldn't come sometime that night.  So, we decided to go ahead and see if Mom would meet us in Lindale and take the boys that night, which she did.  It was "just in case".   During this time, I was texting my friend, who said she would love to be my "doula/coach", keeping her informed of how I was feeling.  By 9:30 that night, I was convinced we would be going to the hospital.  We arrived at the hospital at 10:30 and went straight to triage, meeting my friend, Kim, there.  Unfortunately, I was only at a 3 (I was at a 2 at the appt last week), and still "thick".  They told me if I didn't want an epidural, they could only send me home at this point.  I was determined not to go, so we decided to walk around the hospital for a while and try to get things progressing. 

Side note on why I didn't want an epidural because several people thought I was crazy...  During the labor with both boys, their heart rates started dropping, which it took the nurses several minutes to realize (both times).  They had to give me oxygen and constantly turn me on my sides.  I also didn't like the feeling of being so numb after delivery.  It was little things, but I just felt that a drug-free delivery was something I wanted to do.  I did question my reasoning during the labor a few times ;)  Anyways...

About 30 minutes after walking, and increasing contractions 2 minutes apart, I was convinced I had made some progress.  We went back to triage, and the nurse checked me again...I had not progressed...AT ALL.  "Go home...labor there...you will be more comfortable...we hope to see you back before we get off at 7."  At this time, it was 1:00 am.  My contractions at this point, even at a 3, were as strong as they were with Tristan when I got the epidural at a 7...so going home was not a very good option for me.  Thinking of riding in the car for 30 minutes home...and back...not comfortable at all!  At this point, I was VERY discouraged.  I wasn't sure if I could do it without drugs if I was going to progress this slowly.  We decided to go to Walmart and walk around there for a while.  We were a scene at Walmart ;)  I was leaning on something every 2 minutes with either Kim or Nathan pressing on my hips to relieve some of the pain.  Several people asked if I was ok...and Kim would say "Oh, she's only trying to have a baby."  To clarify, however, I'm a very quiet laborer, so noise wasn't the issue.  After an hour of walking around Walmart and getting a snack to give me energy, we headed back to the hospital...and again, laboring in the car is miserable!  I had decided at this point that if I had not progressed enough, I would just get the epi just to be able to stay at the hospital.  Once we got back in, the doctor was there, and by the looks of me, he told the nurses "Skip triage...just admit her!"  It was about 2:30 at this point.  They checked me, and I was at  7!  Huge relief there!  I labored for an additional 30 minutes with Nate massaging my lower back (back pain...ugh!) and Kim encouraging me.  They checked me again, and I was at a 9, so the nurses called the doctor and got things ready for the pushing.  My saving grace during this time is that I never had contractions back to back...I always had a small break between each one.  I will boast a little and say I did very well during laboring...very quiet and focused.  HOWEVER, saying that...I'm horrible at the pushing stage, although pain-wise, it wasn't as bad as I had thought.  I just had a mental block there, thinking this is going to be impossible!  Pushing was my freak-out time.  Luckily, it was over in 10 minutes, and Malachi was born at 3:11 that morning.  He was perfect at birth -- APGAR scores were all 9.  However, to back up a little, my water never ruptured until halfway during pushing (I remember the doctor and nurses wondering if he would be born with the bag still intact around him), and there was meconium in the fluid, and before they could suction his mouth, he took a huge swallow of it.  So, for a while, they were busy suctioning him out because he would only grunt instead of true crying.  He also had a low blood sugar count, so they had to test him several times during our stay, but all ended up well.

I was thinking this morning and comparing the three labors.  With Tristan, I had the epidural, his heart rate started dropping, I had a hard time pushing (can't feel those contractions!), had several stitches, had a bad recovery, had strong pain killers, and ended up on antibiotics for infection.  With Noah, I had the epidural, his heart rate started dropping, pushing was much shorter, but because of his heart rate dropping, they rushed to get him out...in short, putting me on strong iron pills later for blood loss.  With Malachi, the nurses told me afterwards that his heart rate was beautiful the whole time, not even dropping during contractions, which was typical, needed only a couple of stitches, and recovery has been great.  For me, I think my body does better without the drugs.  It wasn't fun or glorious...and I wouldn't do it again in a hospital but instead at a birth center (hospitals are just not used to drug-free labors)...but it was worth it in the end. 

I don't have my pictures yet, but I plan to share some soon!

Third Trimester with Malachi

Nothing really spectacular happened during the second trimester -- pretty much identical to the boys' pregnancy.  No true cravings, no food adversions, no strange pains (other than Braxton Hicks much earlier this time around).  Just another easy trimester, and I'm so grateful for it...BECAUSE third trimester was not as fun.  The beginning of it was easy, nothing much different.  However, starting about 36 weeks, I started getting hip and pelvic pains.  SO BAD!  Every time I got up in the middle of the night, I had to take some good breaths before moving because pain would just shoot through my left hip and pelvic area.  And the next morning, I would usually be limping, trying to get breakfast ready for the boys.  I finally gave in and paid for a chiropractor (insurance wouldn't help) to help me feel a little more comfortable.  One session was all I needed to feel good "enough" to not need to pay for another appt...although I was still pretty miserable, especially during the night and morning.  The boys couldn't understand why I was not up for running around and playing.  I was always ok with the other boys' pregnancy on going longer, even past due date, because I felt so great.  This time, I was ok going a little early to have this baby...which, surprisingly, did happen!  Every time I would go to the doctor, she would also repeat "Wow...this baby is SO low", which is probably why I had so much pressure down there.  Blood pressure was always good, and other than being anemic and having to take extra iron, everything else was great.  I'll be posting about the actual delivery in the next post -- out of the three boys, his is the most interesting!

Boy #3!

So, we actually haven't had our big ultrasound as of yet, but since my parents were going to be out of country (and possibly out of reliable communication) at the time of our ultrasound, we decided to do a quick gender ultrasound so they could know before leaving.  And what does it reveal?  Of course, boy #3!  Were we hoping for a girl?  In some ways -- I mean, we have boys galore on both sides of the family (my dad's side and my husband's side).  We also have tons of baby girl clothes from fostering and very little baby boy clothes (stupid mistake, thinking we were done naturally and giving everything away!).  However...

God makes no mistakes on what gender child you have.  We are THRILLED to be having another boy.  I first learned of the name Tristan while watching "Legends of the Fall" while pregnant with Tristan.  I loved how the three brothers had a deep love and passion for each other -- even the older brother going to war for the sole purpose of protecting the younger brother.  I want that kind of bond in my boys.  I am blessed with the opportunity to do my best to raise men who love God (more than crocodiles hopefully...but that's another story...), serve God, and serve others.  And honestly, there is nothing greater than being your son's first love! 

But here's another reason we are thrilled to have another boy.  As far as we could see in the short sonogram they did for us today, he is HEALTHY.  We will find out more later this week.  I know I've mentioned this recently in another post, but seeing so many friends going through fertility problems, miscarriages, problems in pregnancies, etc...how can we not be completely thrilled to have this precious healthy baby boy growing inside of me?  How can I complain when I've never experienced ANY problems with fertility/pregnancy?  How many couples out there would be thrilled beyond thrilled to have three boys...because they can't seem to have one child? 

So, even though my house is going to continue to get loud...and rambunctious...and stay dirty...and filled with superheroes/cars/dinosaurs/etc...and lots of boy fighting...I am BLESSED!!!

First Trimester

I didn't blog much about my pregnancy with Tristan, and I really didn't at all with my pregnancy about Noah, and I kind of regret it -- I just don't remember many details about my pregnancy with Noah.  So, I plan to blog, at least a little, about this pregnancy.  More so for me than for anyone else. 

I am 13 weeks now, so I made it through the first trimester once again.  With Tristan, I remember being tired, the smell of coffee was HORRIBLE, and I couldn't eat cauliflower (which was a big stir-fry dish in China that I normally enjoyed) or oatmeal (which I eat EVERYDAY normally).  I wanted cereal, and being the wonderful husband he was, Nate bought me the only box of Raisin Bran he could find in the city for $10!  When family came to visit a few weeks later, they packed several boxes for me in the luggage!  But I never really was sick or nauseous though.  Every once in a while, the smells of China would make my stomach quiver slightly. 

With Noah, I don't really remember much of anything about my first trimester...or at least, nothing really sticks out in my memory.  Actually, the one craving I got was peanut butter, and that craving stuck with me for the past 4 years! Seriously, up until this pregnancy, I would eat it 2-3 times a day. Other than that, I don't recall being tired, sick, anything.  It was an easy, forgettable first trimester.  Guess I can't complain about that though! 

This first trimester was definitely my hardest of the three...which didn't take much to be the hardest though...since my other two were so easy.  We did have a foster baby for the first few weeks and having two active boys didn't help either.  I was often tired, especially in the afternoon.  If I didn't take an afternoon nap, I was dragging horribly by 4:00-5:00.  The smell of coffee hit me once again, the smell making me nauseous.  Still does slightly.  But the interesting thing is, any time I have tried to get off coffee before, I would get horrible migraines.  I went cold turkey this time, not by choice but it hit me that fast, and I haven't had one headache due to it.  Guess the body really does know what it needs and doesn't need!  Peanut butter has suddenly stopped being a craving and instead is just "good" when I eat it.  Veggies were a no-go for several weeks and slowly getting back into them.  My biggest craving right now...and Nate LOVES this...is Mexican hot sauce and the bottled hot sauce (Louisiana Hot Sauce, etc).  Craving more salt/spicy than my normal sweet tooth.  I add the hot sauce to almost everything now -- sandwiches, eggs, veggies, etc.  So good! 

So far, I'm still in normal clothes.  I'm fortunate, being so tall, that I have a lot of room for the baby to grow.  I can tell I have a slight baby bump, but to most other people, it's not obvious yet. 

I won't have a first trimester picture...or any pictures right now.  Again, our computer can only be used in safe mode...because normal mode doesn't work...and it won't pick up my camera card.  Getting a new computer is on the list of things to do...but just not quite yet. 

First trimester down, two trimesters to go! 

An Update...Finally!

A little update from us...the first one in over a year.  I know...I'm horrible at this blogging thing.  But I do have an update...but for some reason, I just don't have the desire to post it on Facebook.  There actually is a reason for that...and I'll get to that in a moment...but here's our newest news:

We are expecting #3 baby in September :)  (There will be no pictures of an ultrasound or anything...because our computer is dying and refuses to allow me to upload pictures...sigh...)

Today is my last day of the first trimester, so starting phase two tomorrow!  We are excited, the boys are thrilled.  And no, we are not fostering anymore.  Little Miss changed placements about a month ago, and although this was one reason, there were many other reasons that helped us make this decision.  She is, however, in a home that desperately wants to adopt her, although I doubt that will happen (I'm thinking she will go to kin). 

With my previous two pregnancies, I never thought twice about putting it out on Facebook, making that wonderful announcement so the whole world (or all my FB friends) could see it.  However, since Noah has been born, I've seen so much heartache in others with infertility, miscarriages, loss of babies during pregnancies.  Everything from Anencephaly (born without a brain -- happened with two different couples I know)...to tumors causing death at 24 weeks gestation...to sudden stillborn birth days before due date...to water breaking at 18 weeks and giving birth too prematurely to do anything life-saving.  I don't say all of this to sound depressing or make it seem like I'm worried about my pregnancy.  I'm not worried...although I know anything could happen...but I have to trust God with this precious baby.  However, I've become much more sensitive to those around me that have endured such hardships (the giving birth at 18 weeks just happened last week), and it's made me feel that announcing something so exciting should be, for me, a more private announcement. 

So, if you are reading this, thanks for wanting to see our update!  And we know...everyone wants us to have a girl...but since it's already determined, we will just be happy with a healthy baby! 

God Sees the Real Me

How often do we have to remind ourselves that "God sees the real me"?  Yet, we often try to be someone that everyone else wants us to be.  Why is that?  God made us exactly who He wanted us to be, yet we feel like we should be more.  We often feel like we can't be used by God with the "limited" talents and skills we have.  I know sometimes I feel that way.  Stay-at-home mom (mostly), average monthly salary, limited resources -- how can I make a difference?  Yet deep down inside, I know that God is so much more powerful than our monthly salary or my average talents/skills.  God knows who I am, so much better than I know myself, and He knows how exactly I can be used to make a difference.  God knows every little tiny detail about myself, the REAL me, the me that wants to do more, wants to be part of something greater, but also the part that struggles in her prayer life and finding time to do a daily quiet time (ever since children, I haven't been the morning person I used to be!).  But isn't God awesome, that he doesn't need perfection to create perfection?!  Even with all my failings and struggles, God sees the "perfection" in me, the part in me that He can use.  Here are some examples that I love, of some women that were not and are still not perfect, but God is using them in incredible ways:

Time-Warp Wife -- In her testimony, she tells how her husband found out she had previously had an affair, but in all their struggles, they stayed together.  Now she has an incredible blog that is an encouragement to married women struggling to be the wife God has called us to be.

We are THAT family -- I LOVE this blog and the amazing things this woman had done.  She has help start an organization called "The Mercy House".  It is a maternity house in Kenya that aids unwed pregnant women living in poverty.  So many women in that situation often have (or are forced to have) abortions, which not only ends a baby's life, but often times ends the mother's life due to complications.  But another reason I love this blog is because she is an ordinary mother, and she often portrays that in her blog.  You know, the everyday children/marriage/home struggles.  Such an encouragement to me.

The Unplugged Family -- This blog is a new one I've just started following.  She calls it "unplugged" because (in her words) -- "Unplugging to me means taking the plunge and daring to pull the 'connector' to this world and this culture...and cling to something more.  Cling to Jesus and His views on how we should live."  In her testimony, she shares that she became pregnant with her first child with her boyfriend (whom three months later became her husband) and how they struggled those first few years of marriage.  Years later, they have a solid marriage, three children, and live in a 900 sq.ft. farm house, TV-free, and just living the simple life.  She also helps with a ministry called "Nanchu: Nuture a Child Uganda".

Definitely check these blogs out!

Also, on the topic of "God sees the real me", Daysping has this beautiful wall hanging for sale, marked down from $40.00 to just $9.99.  I love this and will probably get this to add to our "girl" room!  You can click on the picture to be taken to the site.