We welcomed sweet Evie Rose to our family on Thursday morning, November 10, 2016. She was our biggest baby at 8 pounds 12 ounces and 21 inches, but she came with no complications and we are feeling so very blessed once again!
Pregnancy and labor has been very different with each of our children. In a lot of ways I'd say Evie's pregnancy was my hardest. This pregnancy was truly a surprise for us and as a planner, though I was happy, to be honest it was an adjustment. Then just as I was really getting excited we had our first Dr.'s appointment and they couldn't find a heartbeat. It was early and my Dr. didn't sound worried so I tried not to act worried and said I could wait until my next appointment a month later. As you can imagine after being home only a few hours I was quickly realizing that I should have just walked across the street for an ultrasound. Now I had to call and try to get an appointment and wait with the unknown for what felt like a very long 3 or 4 days. Thankfully they found a heartbeat with no trouble and in regards to any complications it was smooth sailing from there. However, as much as I hate to admit it I think my body is just a little bit older and a little more worn out than it was when I carried my first baby, and this pregnancy made me face that a little more than the others. Though I still treasured feeling her movements and first and last kicks as she grew inside me, the parts where I was sick and my back hurt and I couldn't sleep were much less novel, and perhaps that was part of why it just felt a little harder. Oh that and the fact that our other four just really don't understand my need for rest. :)
I believe Evie's due date was the 12th but I expected her to come early. Hazel was a week early and I kind of just expected the same thing. So as November rolled around we were ready. I felt like I'd been having braxton hicks contractions for months and she should be here any day. November 9th was my Dad's birthday so Mom was rooting for Evie to be born on the 9th, but the 9th came and we all went out to dinner, and it felt like she was never going to come. In all fairness I hadn't walked or done anything to help the situation so I figured the next day, as much as I didn't want to, I was going to air up the tires on the jogger, head to the park with the little ones, and start walking. Yuck! Luckily for me I woke up in the early hours of the morning with contractions. They didn't seem too strong but were pretty regular pretty quickly so when Brandon woke up I told him that I thought I might be starting to go into labor but wasn't sure. He said he'd hang around and help me get the kids off to school. At this point we were thinking he'd drop the kids off and come back before possibly heading to work. By the time the kids were up and getting ready I was feeling a little nervous about even being left at home while he went to drop the kids off. I started thinking maybe I should ride with him and have my mom meet us at school. By the time we got to school it was more like Mom can you walk the kids in while Brandon moves car seats because we need to get to the hospital ASAP. I felt a little crazy having contractions in the school parking lot but you do what you have to do at that point.
From school we headed straight to the hospital. My Dr. was already there doing rounds as I checked in and told the nurses that I hoped I was in active labor. I really thought I was with Hazel and they almost sent us home so this time around I was nervous about that especially considering it had only been a few hours of contractions. Luckily for me I definitely was in labor so they checked me in, my Dr. stayed at the hospital, they gave me an epidural basically at the last second, and then within the hour I was pushing and she was here. We actually waited just a minute to call people because we wanted to make sure my mom had already picked Wyatt up from Kindergarten when we called so that Sadie wouldn't find out at school.
So although this pregnancy was harder than others I'd definitely say the labor was easier and I'm really thankful. We are planning for this to be our last so it was a special gift to have an easier labor. I feel like it really allowed me to enjoy this last experience and treasure those first precious moments. There's nothing that comes close to holding your baby for the very first time, everything else truly just disappears at the wonder of this new life unknown seconds before but now known and in your arms. I wish there was a way to store up the sweetness of these moments because, especially with this one, I could literally feel them slipping away but I guess that's part of what makes them so precious. They aren't common and they are so fleeting as are the days and years with these little ones at home, and that's why though we often feel crazy we embrace it all to the best of our ability.
Welcome to the world sweet Evie Rose!! Born healthy and strong on your Great Grandma's Birthday and Loved, Loved, Loved by your own little tribe of siblings and your Mommy and your Daddy, and your Grammy and more Aunts and Uncles and Cousins and friends than you can imagine.
It's always fun when the "big" kids get to come and meet the newest addition. I love watching each of them. I love the wonder and confusion in the littlest ones eyes as they try to figure out what has happened and I love the pride in the older ones who have been waiting and anticipating this big day with us.
We are so thankful for all of our family but in these moments we are especially thankful to Grammy and Robert for all they did to take over for us while we were in the hospital. They always welcome the kids and all the chaos into their home with smiles and excitement making the process all the more fun and exciting for the kids.
Uncle Robert
Grammy
In case you're wondering this makes 9 grand babies for this awesome Grammy!
Auntie Amy and Payton
I have never meet a 6 year old who loves babies quite like Payton. She genuinely just adores them and cannot get enough of them. Such a sweet cousin our Miss Evie Rose has.
Autumn is also a baby holding professional :)
Funny/not so funny story. The kids and I got the stomach flu 3 or 4 days before I went into labor which consisted of me in the downstairs bathroom thinking I might not survive and 2 of our children, yes 2, walking into our bedroom in the middle of the night to inform us that they needed to throw up and then not making it back to the bathroom in time. WHY????????? So again while I was shocked that I didn't go into labor, I was kind of thankful thinking at least we had gotten it out of the way before Evie was born. The one positive I could find was that she was safe from all the germs. So we thought we were through it until I woke up the morning after having Evie and Brandon didn't look so good. Noooo!!! Brandon was so bummed but ended up heading home for most of the day Friday to rest and keep the germs away from Evie. It was a little weird not having him at the hospital as he usually stays the entire time, but he still came back to take us home on Friday night and my Mom was so nice to keep the kids for an extra night so that Brandon could have a little extra time to recover.
As you can see Evie is definitely not lacking attention. Her brothers and sisters adore her and she is just about the sweetest thing. She's sleeping 5-6 hour stretches which is unheard of in this house, especially for a newborn, eating like a champ, and just an all around happy little thing thus far.
Auntie Kendra
Uncle Andy
I'm afraid this one is going to be trouble. Hazel LOVES Evie!!! She wants to hold her ALL the time and just try taking Evie away from her and see what happens.
No comments:
Post a Comment