This post is for my dear friend, Sarah. Yesterday on the phone she asked what we were doing this summer. I casually said we weren’t really doing much. This morning I was thinking through the past month and realized that we’ve had a brilliant summer. So, Sarah- here is my real answer about our summer:
I have LOVED this summer because we added Adele to our family. Having a newborn has forced us to enjoy staying close to home. And honestly, I love my home! We have worked really hard to make it our heaven. I have loved watching my toddler boys enjoy the kid-summer-stuff like making popsicles, swimming in pools, scratching bug bites, hunting for worms, drawing masterpieces with chalk, watching fireworks. I remember how good things are when my kids can run around a backyard without a care in the world.
Phin is really into worms. He brought some in the house this morning so they could watch him eat his snack. He says that the worms, “wiggle when they are happy.”
Phin can also identify parsley and chives in the garden and bring them into me when I cook. I am still working with him on deciphering the difference between thyme and oregano. Eli likes to pick chives, too. But he feeds them to our next door dog, Goldie. That poor dog.
We are off to Fort Collins today to go on a toddler hike and play in the splash park. Life is so good. Here’s to lazy summers and popsicle-stained faces.
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All three children are napping. Miracle? Yes.
After three whirlwind weeks with a newborn, I am ready to share the long awaited birth story. Once upon a time, I thought my water was slowly leaking. (I’m not one to gush amniotic fluid without the assistance of the OB’s crochet hook.) It was either me losing bladder control or amniotic fluid. It’s sometimes hard to tell the difference there at the end without scientific equipment. So, I headed to the hospital on Sunday afternoon looking for some of that scientific equipment. I wanted to be sure before Nate headed into Greeley for a church meeting.
I went into the hospital with nothing but my wallet, sunglasses, and cell phone. The sweet nurse informed me, as she held up a black q-tip, that I was going to be admitted right then and there. I was a solid 2 cm and 50% effaced with leaking amniotic fluid. I thought that was fabulous news. I called Nate and then started calling around for a babysitter. Our friend came over to watch the boys while my fabulous Labor Team drove to Fort Morgan. (Our friend was supposed to be running a Girl’s Camp Meeting at the church- so she just changed the venue to our kitchen table.)
The big rush of momentum once I was admitted was great. I was totally excited and ready to push out a baby in a few hours. Hook up the Pit! However, in a small town, things don’t always work out how you want. My doctor wasn’t coming in until the morning. She told the nurse over the phone, “just have her go to sleep and then she’ll be rested for the morning, if she wants an epidural, page the nurse anesthetist now so you don’t wake him up later tonight.” It was truly 14 hours or so until I saw my doctor from when I was admitted.
Nate came to rescue me with board games and snacks. He also brought toasting glasses and bubbly to celebrate. (Disclaimer: Our bubbly was a tasty Grape-Cranberry Martinelli’s.) My Labor Team arrived a few hours later and I didn’t have anything exciting for them to do. I wasn’t progressing on my own and I was having very little pain. I sent them to my house to sleep on real beds and Nate and I played board games and listened to great music on a mix provided by my best friend, Chelsea.
I knew I would want that epidural, so in came our good friend from church to hook it up. (Again, small town reality…). He was fabulous and in minutes I couldn’t even feel the awkward pain from full-term pregnancy. Seriously- I could actually sleep! In the morning my nurse came in and announced that once my OB was done with her shower, she would come and break my water. Still no rush. Nate ate the scary breakfast tray, complete with a rubber-egg-disc, and I wasn’t even jealous.
My doctor broke my water around 7:00 am and then things finally got moving. I progressed quickly and really enjoyed having the epidural so early. With my other deliveries, I always waited until I was super cranky and mean to get the epidural. With Adele’s labor, I had it in before I ever had real pain. This delivery was almost dreamy. I felt great and enjoyed it! When I transitioned it was time to throw up and then push her out. (That’s how it always works with my babies: transition, puke, push.) Nate was so excited for my nausea that he pushed the call button to get a nurse in to check my dilation, etc. I didn’t want an audience to watch me puke and called my sweet husband a jerk.
After pushing through 2 contractions she arrived! She had the cord wrapped around her neck, so after she was set free, we met face-to-face.
I needed Adele. I am so thrilled that I get to be her mother.
*Photos were taken by Chelsea Ellingson.
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