Saturday, February 21, 2015

Ainsley's Birth Story, 6 months later!

Our family of 8 on 8/10/14

Well as scheduled I was induced on the 10th!  I was supposed to go in at 5 am but the hospital didn't call me in til 11 am.  Kevin was able to go to his 6 am priesthood meeting and took the kids to church at 10.  We kept waiting and my phone finally rang at 11!  I texted Kevin and Allie who were still in sacrament meeting to tell them it was time for me to go to the hospital.  I made dinner for the kids (baked spaghetti) for Lorraine and Jack to stick in the oven for them while I went to the hospital.  We were all hoping that by the time dinner was put away they would all be able to come to the hospital to see their new sister.

At the start of labor and delivery
Looks like I was watching food network to pass the time!

We left for the hospital around 1140 and finally made it to labor and delivery at 1230.  They got me hooked up by past 1, and since I was group b strep positive this time around (first time!) they had to give me penicillin thru my IV and it had to run for 4 hours before I could have the baby.  That medicine burns as it passes thru the IV into your arm and up your arm and your shoulder,  I can only compare it to an open sore being treated with alcohol or something!  It burned! Anyway the nurse diluted it so it wouldn't hurt but it still came in waves.  Made me cry it hurt so bad.  
Anyway Dr Beck was supposed to come in around 4 to break my water but didn't make it in til 630. I got my epidural just minutes beforehand.  My epidural took a little bit longer to set in this time and I think is causing my back pain and headaches now.  Anyway Kevin almost passed out (for the first time!  - and yes, this is his sixth time!) during that and had to sit down.  I was super lucky that the senior anesthesiologist was available when it was time for me to get the epidural because I didn't have a good feeling about the CRNA that had come in to see me just hours before.  Allie and Lorraine came over as soon as I called to let them know Dr Beck had broken my water.  But by 8 pm I was only at a 6-7, and they were hoping to be back home shortly after 9 so Dad/Pop could go home and sleep for his early am shift.  

By 830 Kevin and Allie decided they would go to Walmart to get contact lens solution for Kevin, since it was looking like it wasn't going to happen soon enough.  But I guess they saw Dr Beck in the parking lot (chock it up to Kevin's good memory of what car he drove) and decided to come back in just in case the hospital had called him for me.  It was a good thing they did.  Dr Beck did come in, said I was a 9.5 and ready to push!  I had been feeling a lot of pressure but didn't have any idea I was good to go in that short amount of time.  I transitioned rather quickly (as usual).
After a few contractions and pushing for about 10-15 minutes our little baby was born at 855 pm. 8 lbs 11 oz 14 inch head and 21 inches long. Allie took pictures and grandma Lorraine got to be there this time too!  I was so relieved everything went well and that she came in healthy and without complications.  I was a bit nervous since there is always a chance it's not going to be, so I kept a prayer in my heart the whole entire pregnancy that she would be healthy and I would be okay.  I don't know if I can do this again!!! But I am glad to have been blessed with a super cute perfect baby.



I loved that little cute face of hers the moment I saw it!

Kevin cutting the cord


Me getting to hold her for the first time





8 lb. 11 oz



Opera-like crying




First photo with me and Kevin - so glad everything went well and I didn't pass out this time.  They were really careful about monitoring my blood and I was careful to track how my breathing felt so the passing out didn't happen this time.  I ate my cheeseburger and fries (yes they tasted so good after waiting all day to eat) right away!


We named this little babe - Ainsley Rinna.  Ainsley was the only name we both liked of all the names that were on our list. Rinna, the middle name, was Kevin's choosing - he had wanted to give Allie and Maddie that for a middle name but didn't get to, so I agreed, since she may be our last girl!  Allie wanted to name her Brynn I think it was - Brynnley Kate or something similar - one of the nurses in L&D said that was her girl's name too.  We thought it a sign, but in the end Ainsley won out.  We haven't met anyone named Ainsley so it's pretty original, for now!

Allie slept over on Sunday night and I had the baby go in the nursery that night so I could rest. Kevin came back at 5 am Monday morning to take Allie to school (her school starts at 615) and then he dropped Collin and Maddie off at ALA - it was their first day and Collin and Maddie really hoped for me to be home by then but it didn't work out that way!  I was feeling sad for Maddie, since she was having a hard time going without me.  Collin had a hard time in the days preceding, asking me why the baby wouldn't come sooner so that I could be home to take him to school on the first day. But he did ok on the first day.

Hearing test the next day - she passed both ears the first time!  All my girls had no hearing issues from Day 1.  My boys on the other hand had to have repeat tests.

After Kevin got the boys over to Lorraine's the next day he came back and helped me with the baby til he had to leave to pick them up at 3.  Brittney B came by and brought me sweet tooth fairy treats and cute baby gifts.  She is so sweet!  Those treats were so good at midnight!! 

Kevin is so good at jumping in and changing baby diapers!
So sleepy!



Kevin came back with all our kids to see the baby for the first time around 630 - got them McDonalds for dinner (ha! A first in a very very long time!  The kids weren't even sure if they could eat it), and we had fun taking pictures and taking turns holding the baby and some of the usual craziness that goes on at home!  I have video footage that I am sure I will cry over when they are all grown up.  

Maddie meeting and holding Ainsley for the first time

Ahhh, this picture sums up all my happiness - makes me smile every time I see it.


Me and all the kids
Allie is an expert and helped all the kids get set up with the baby





View from my bed - melts my heart!  A typical sight.
This one is my most favorite shot of all pictures I took of all of them.  Again so typical!






This was so funny - no one was sure about eating McDonalds so they all crowded around the hospital food and ate my food instead. 

So it was a fun first FHE for our baby Ainsley!!! Kevin took them all home at 830 and then Kristie and Adam came to visit after. I again sent the baby to the nursery for a few hours so I could rest again but had them bring her to me when she got hungry.  I marathon nursed from midnight to 2 am and sent her back to the nursery til 6 am.  Kevin came back shortly after 8 and after a long time deciding what we should name the baby, we were finally off at 11 am.  We had a great stay at the hospital with wonderful nice nurses - Stephanie my L&D nurse, Rhonda my night nurse both nights, and Jen my last CNA who was so nice!



Friday, February 20, 2015

July 2014

It is so sad I am so behind, but need to keep this blog up for journaling purposes!  So here is how July went in photos:

Random photo of Mason - at this age he loved putting on hats, googles, sunglasses, etc.  So funny!  This one is his mad scientist baby look.

For the first time in many years, we stayed in town for July 4th since I was so big and pregnant!  It was quite a bit different - no parades, no beautiful fireworks, no patriotic stuff, and super HOT - but we had our family around so it was still fun, just different from what we are used to doing in the summer.
We had the kids play on the water slide to cool off a little, which helped but gah, even a pool at this time in AZ only makes it bearable (comfortable would be a dream!!).  But the kids had fun on this thing!
We grilled burgers and hotdogs, of course!
More slide pics:


Cute 4th of July babies!  Now that's a little patriotic there.

We had some fireworks too!
Mason got scared of the fireworks and sat on grandma's lap







Overall a fun filled day!
My instagram post for the day:
Looks like we had gone to see a movie in the morning with the kids - I think it was Maleficent.  
During the week, we kept ourselves busy painting our whole house (Allie), organizing and nesting (me), and the kids:
They found an old crib mattress and decided to slide down the stairs with it. Mason didn't like it and was scared.  The rest of them loved it!


Kids love when Grandma and Pop stop by for a few minutes.  

Mason steals and wears all kinds of shoes!  He loves trying everything on, including these fancy dress up shoes. Funny boy.

Kevin decided that playing the piano is actually really relaxing,so he would sit and play a few hymns when he gets a chance.  I love it and glad he is putting his talents to work a little.

This is my attempt to get a decent photo of Mason at 18 months.  Stinker would not look at the camera so I didn't get any good ones, but this is so him!

Then Allie started school on 7/30.  I can't believe I have a high schooler.  Time flies. Seems just like yesterday she was a baby.  I of course wanted photos so we went a little early so I could take a couple outside of her school.  I am so happy that she is such a stellar young lady!


She is cool with a mom who takes pictures of everything!
Meanwhile while she was at school, Maddie wanted to make her big sister's first day so special.  I helped her make a banner (and so did my friend Brittney) and bought a cupcake for her to remember her first day by.  Maddie Moo is so thoughtful like that, I am grateful I have her!
She even wrapped a few presents and had it waiting on the table for Allie when she got home. So sweet!
One day we walked out of our house and saw this big old beehive in front of our house.  Scary!  We had the beekeepers come and take it away.  They saved the hive and people told me we shouldn't have given it away but I wasn't prepared to raise bees, haha!  

Kevin would get invited to the attorney suite at Chase Field once in a while - fun watching the Dbacks.  I think every time we have gone, the DBacks won!