Whoa, slow down!

Start your engines...

To the right!

....To the left!

Woo-hoo!

This girl isn't wasting any time!

Blessing Ryleigh

We blessed Ryleigh on Sunday July 1st - and it was really nice having family in town to share this special occasion with (especially since our nearest family is a 4 hour drive away).  Since Brant turned the big 3-0 just the day before on June 30, we celebrated his birthday, Ryleigh's blessing, and the 4th of July all in one day with a BBQ dinner back at our house after church. 

I'm quite fond of these pictures here, mostly because I love the traditions behind them.  The beautiful blessing gown sewn from my wedding dress by Grandma Harrison (that was also worn by Savannah on her blessing day).  The bonnet Ryleigh is wearing (we switched to a headband back at home) was worn by both my sister and I when we were blessed as babies. And, like I mentioned here, the white/pink/blue blanket given to me by my Aunt Doris when I was a baby.

Love it!  

Two Little Monkeys

A picture with Aunt Shannon while she was in town last week seemed appropriate since these little ones were sporting the jammies she made for them last Christmas (before we even knew we Ryleigh was a girl).

Like I said before...

Time couldn't be flying faster than it is right now.  Ryleigh has already hit her five week mark and is growing noticeably every single day.  Adjusting to a family of four has been easier than I expected -  I've been able to successfully navigate both the post office, the grocery store and Target with two little girls in tow (albeit it with lots of planning and careful execution!)  And I expect that our prep time to get ready and out of the house can only get faster (at least that's my goal!)

Savannah has taken to her role as big sister and has started singing nursery songs to Ryleigh - something that they both enjoy and I love to watch.  Her favorite songs to sing?  Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam, Popcorn Popping, The Wise Man Built his House, and her ABCs.

Two Weeks

I don't believe that time could be flying by any faster than it is right now.  Since I didn't have an IV in when Ryleigh delivered (no time for that), it was recommended that we stay in the hospital for 48 hours for observation of any infections.  At times it could  be long and boring, and I would look around the hospital room for anything to do: look out the window into the courtyard, fold sheets, tidy the bathroom, wipe down my portable table, organize the dirty dishes on the food tray... but then there were those times - especially in the evenings when the hospital quieted down and the constant stream of hospital personnel coming in and out of my room leveled off, that I would be overcome with deep gratitude for my sweet, healthy baby and the time that I had alone to spend with her - just Ryleigh and I.  I knew that these few precious moments were fleeting and soon we would be back home acclimating to our new life as a family of four.

Nancy- unable to go back to sleep once she knew I was in labor - got up and drove the 3.5 hours down from Dallas at 3:30am to stay with Savannah and help wherever needed.  What a champ!  Most noticeably, I was thankful for her keeping our house picked up and knowing that I could (though most often times by accident) drift asleep in the middle of the day in the bedroom with Ryleigh by my side - and know that Savannah was being well taken care of.  And Savannah loved the attention so much I think she hardly noticed when I was gone at the hospital!

And hallelujah for a FULL freezer of dinners!  Once my mom arrived (and we had relieved Nancy) mom was busy the entire week she spent with us by grocery shopping, cooking, freezing meals, and sewing projects.  I even got to utilize her Sam's Club membership before she left and we stocked up.  WAY up!  It was a very relaxing week for me of not having to worry about menu planning, cooking, or grocery shopping (which I don't think I'll have to worry about for another month!) - and again being able to fall asleep and know that Savannah was being well taken care of.

At the routine newborn checkups since the hospital, the pediatrician commented that Ryleigh is 'perfect' - her coloring, reflexes, etc. and she is a very healthy baby.  Even so, I'm keeping a very close eye on and taking especially good care of her skin since we've been cautioned that eczema runs in the genetics.

Overall, it has been a really smooth transition for our family.  With the exception of a few times so far when Savannah has been particular of who she approves to hold Ryleigh, she has adjusted well and is really good at bringing me diapers and letting us know when baby is crying.  She can even say Ryleigh's name clearer than she does her own ("Sanna").  And  I don't know if it's because of the help we've had, my persistence of working out before and during my pregnancy, the fact that I labored and delivered naturally, or just the way my body is built, or all of the above, but I've had a really quick and easy recovery.

First outing to the park.  And she slept through the whole thing.

Two weeks and already growing so fast

Savannah loving on her baby sister

A Baby Story: Delivery the Natural Way

(The Cliff notes:  Four hours of labor and only 14 minutes at the hospital until Ryleigh delivered.  Read on for the full, detailed story with pictures at the end.)

In the past I've made comments that the only way I thought I could do a natural delivery was if (1) it was at a birthing center where epidurals weren't an option or (2) if I got to the hospital too late to get an epidural.

Apparently I jinxed myself.

It was just before midnight on Thursday May 17 when I woke up in bed thinking that my weak pregnant bladder must have sprung a leak.  It wasn't until I had reached the bathroom that the thought even crossed my mind "Wait, was that  my water that just broke...?"

Naaaaaah.  Couldn't be.  I wasn't having contractions - plus it was midnight, and that just wasn't a convenient time to go into labor.

As I climbed back into bed, it was the damp spot I felt on the sheets that convinced me to wake Brant and let him know that either I  had just wet the bed - or my water broke.  Given the fact that I still wasn't having contractions, I decided to wait and see if they start before making any plans of action.

It takes a few minutes for my body to stop shaking - from what, I'm not sure.  Nerves from the uncertainty that I could be in labor?  My body gearing up for what it knew was about to happen?  Whatever it was, it definitely wasn't because it was cold - it's summer time in Houston after all.  But after about 20 minutes of sleep, guess what.

Contractions.

It takes about three contractions to clue me in that this could be the real thing.  I grab my phone, download a contraction counter app and realize that the contractions off the bat are 5-7 minutes apart.  Our original plan was that we'd call Nancy when I started contractions and she would drive the 3.5 hours from Dallas to stay with Savannah - and if we needed to leave for the hospital before she arrived, we'd call a friend to stay with Savannah until Nancy got here.  What we didn't calculate in was what would happen if labor was happening in the middle of the night and was progessing fast.  And within an hour and a half my contractions are 2-4 minutes apart.  We decide to go ahead and call a friend to come over and stay with Savannah until Nancy could arrive. Luckily luckily (because remember that it's the time of day when most normal people are well into their REM cycles, that my dear (and I mean dear) friend Christi answered my 2:30am text asking if she could come stay with Savannah.  She responds back "of course - on the way over."

At 3am I call L&D at the hospital and tell the nurse that my water broke around midnight and how close the contractions are.  She says "Ok, go ahead and take a shower and come on in.  I can tell we've got time since you can talk through your contractions."  (And that would be the last time I trust a triage nurse over the phone.  Plus, remember the MA's comment here when I was in labor with Savannah?)

In the meantime I take a 4 minute shower (with two big contractions) and get ready to head to the hospital (yay for having a hospital bag already packed!).  True to her word, Christi shows up and - even though what I really had wanted was to chat with her for a minute and show her where everything was and clue her in on Savannah's morning routine - we jump in the car to make the 10 minute door- to- door drive to the hospital.  Good thing we left asap, because had we left the house any later.... well, let's not think about that!

I'd say we probably made it to the hospital in 6-7 minutes (if you ever want to beat Houston traffic, try driving at 3am.  It's remarkably empty - yet still busy - at that time).  And it was during that 7 minutes that things started really getting intense.  Like, contractions coming every 30 seconds and tears running down my face from the intense pain.

Brant pulls up to the loading/unloading zone at the maternity entrance (oh, hi early morning paper boy.  don't mind me, I'm just breathing heavy from these contractions) and decides its probably best to skip the part where he goes to park the car after dropping me off - and just leaves the car there in the no parking zone - to walk me into the hospital.

Good thing nurses know how to spot a laboring patient.  As we walk in the doors, they simply see us and point down the hall to where we need to check in.  It was also a good thing that I had both pre-registered and called ahead just the hour before because the check in lady had all my info already waiting when we arrived.  After Brant filled out a short form, she points to a bench and tells us to "Have a seat.  A nurse will be with you shortly"

It was a beautiful bench under the "For Laboring Mothers Only" sign.  Really.  But come on - we're running short on time here.  I can't even sit down these contractions are about 5 seconds apart now!

Thankfully, about 15 seconds later nurse Kerrie appears and leads us to the labor triage room where they check you to make sure your really in labor before admitting you.  But not before another contraction makes me have to stop walking and focus on breathing.

Once inside the tiny closet  triage room I'm barely able to get a gown on and up on the bed while nurse Kerrie is casually trying to get me set up with the belly band that measures the baby's heart rate.

Come on nurse.  No time for that.


And that's when I feel my body take over as it starts bearing down and - without my consent - starts pushing on its own.

My face goes blank.  Do I push with the contractions?  Fight the pushing?  Help!

"I have to push - I have to push!"  I hear myself frantically huffing out. "I never intended to do this naturally!"


Apparently nurse Kerrie sensed my distress by the look on my face, abandons the belly heart monitor - and checks my dilation.  "She's at a 9".  I hear her pick up the phone and say "I need everyone in here - she's about to deliver.  She's at a 9, but +1 station."  Why is there no urgency in her voice??

Within seconds the triage room door pushes open and I see the birthing team try to wheel in the needed equipment.  Wait, there's not room for everything to fit.  They make a split second decision to wheel me to a room (good gracious alive, I'm never going to make it at this rate!)  And on the 20 or so feet trip it took to get down the hall to what was to be my birthing room, I realize something new.  I can scream.

Really scream.

Now, I can't say that this was my proudest or most shining moment, but when your body is pushing out a baby -without your help - and you haven't had any kind of epidural/ pain management, or even coping techniques besides the "hee, hee, ha" at your childbirth refreshers class... and  your being wheeled on a bed from room to room all while this is all happening, not sure if its ok to push or keep it in...

...its ok.  Scream all you need to.  Don't you worry about the other patients sleeping at 4am (because that will be the last thing on your mind anyways).

By now we've made it into birthing room - no time to get feet in the stirrups that us women all know and love.  I've decided its safe to work with my uterus and start pushing with the contractions.

Let me just stop here and tell you what pushing a baby out feels like with no epidural... burning. Burning. BURNING!!!!!! You feel like you are being torn apart "down there" and there is nothing you can do except keep pushing through the burning to get your baby out.

I'm maybe being a little dramatic here, but remember:  I wasn't prepared for this nor did I ever have any intention of doing it this way.

With every push I frantically demand ask "is she crowning?  is she crowning?!".

After the first push I get the response "Almost!"

The second push and I get the reponse from nurse Kerrie "She's this much - indicating and 'o' with her thumb and fore finger (like making the ok sign).

Third push response and Brant answers this time "Look down- you can see her head!"

I have only a split second to notice her head when I'm already pushing with the next contraction.  Generally once you push the head and shoulders out, then the rest of the baby's body will slide out.  Not so with a 8.5lb baby. (Hello, did the doctor not predict just the week before during the ultrasound that she was around 6.5 lbs?  Did she really gain 2 lbs in one week??)

And with one last push, she's out!  RELIEF!!!

Or was there?

My first words when nurse Kerrie placed her on my stomach were "She's purple....she's purple... is she ok?"

"Yes- she's great.  She'll pink up here in a second."  (which she did and they took her back to get her cleaned up).

I don't remember when Savannah was born the contractions or burning being quite so strong when it was time for the placenta to make it's exit from my innards.  But then again, I had had an epidural.

And when the hospital chief of obstetrics arrived (the nurses couldn't get a hold of the on call doctor from my doctor's practice - but that's another story) it was my consolation prize of having no tears or stitches needed after having birthed a 8.5 lb baby so quickly after having no meds.

Afterwards, nurse Stephanie said that when she saw us walk into the hospital, that she could tell that I was close to delivering, and that Ryleigh was in just the right position with her head down and chin tucked to make such a speedy delivery.  And I think it's credit to the 5 hours of pushing I had with Savannah that my body was able to stretch the way it did so quickly this time - and without tearing.

While I think it's neat that I can say I'm in the club of moms who have had natural child births, I can't say I'm interested in doing it that (sans epidural/ pain meds) way again.  But I can say that she was all worth it.

P.S.  Brant did great the entire time and actually says this is how he likes to do it - fast and over with.  And yes, he did eventually get the car moved out of the no parking zone :)

Sweet baby Ryleigh who knows how to make a dramatic entrance :)

With nurse Kerrie (who delivered -she should get a bonus) and nurse Stephanie 

So sweet.  Love this guy.

Family of Four!

These are a few of my favorite things

- The other month, Savannah loved to 'nuggle' and during the middle of a night - like 3am - when Brant was away on a trip, I heard her quietly walk into our dark room and up to my side of the bed. She simply looked at me and said in a cute little innocent voice "nuggle...?"  It was about the most precious thing ever...How could I not let her into bed with me to snuggle?  Especially when she picked a rare night that Brant was gone on a trip!

- She still likes to snuggle, but can now pronounce the 's'.  "Snuggle Mommy" "Snuggle Daddy"  "Snuggle Bed" "Snuggle Couch".  And we love it!

- There are three things that she is on the look out for whenever we're driving in the car and every time she spots them she excitedly lets us know.  "School Bus!" "Trash Man!" and our favorite "Octonauts!"  (Which she really means "Octagon" from the stop signs.... or more recently today the little security decal on a car window parked next to us".  She refers to them as "Octonauts" which is also a toddler cartoon show.

-One morning last week, after I had had a restless pregnancy night and was finally able to fall asleep at 6:30am (giving me, oh - 30 minutes or so before she was due to wake up) I actually woke up two hours later wondering how on earth she could still be sleeping past 8:30am - only to find that she had quietly walked into the room, found my phone beside the bed, and was sitting on the ground next to the bed playing on it without making a peep.  How long had she been there for?  What a gem for letting me sleep longer than usual on the most needed morning!

- She is tall.  Really tall.  The other week at the doctor's she was 36lb and 36in and wearing a size 4 in children's clothes.  Check out this bike with training wheels she sat on today - at 2 years and 4 months, she almost fits into it.  People out and about have a hard time believing she is that young. Just yesterday a woman in line at the deli said to me "She should be in school, shouldn't she?"  Um, no lady - she's only 2!!  And yes, she's got great potential for a full ride volleyball scholarship to college :)

-  Every time I ask her where baby sister is, she points to my belly and then will sometimes give it a kiss (how sweet!).  And then sometimes I'll catch her lifting up her shirt, pointing to her own little belly and saying "Baby Seester!"

- Two years, four pediatric docs, a dermatologist, an allergist, and well over a dozen prescriptions (and just as many if not more over the counter moisturizers and home remedies including bleach baths) - we have finally finally been able to get and keep her eczema under consistent control.  HALLELUJAH!!  I certainly don't wish baby #2 to have to struggle with eczema problems like Savannah has, but if she does - we will be much much  more prepared on how to handle it.