The kids and I made these cuties for Luke’s class thanksgiving party which happened this morning. I love how they came out but truth be told, I have such an intimidation factor with pies! I also don’t have the best baking/cooking with kids track record. Room to grow people, room to grow 🙂 Thus is a great one with little hands that want to help. Continue reading “Mini pumpkin pies”
Our sweet Jordan, our May baby. Although this is technically our fourth birth rodeo (man, that’s a comparison that breaks down real fast), I could not believe how much every birth has felt like its own entity. The butterflies, the excitement, the nerves, the preparation. While I had peace knowing what my body has or hasn’t done, I was still very in touch with my fears of giving birth again. I was nervous about precipitous labor; Emma had been born in under three hours and while that sounds nice and fast, it’s also hard to stay on top of the pain. I was also anxious when I went late; Luke had been the only other babe to be late and there were complications, which I was hoping I wouldn’t have to face. And although I knew these were only hypotheticals, I think my body had a hard time relaxing and allowing labor to come.
I had no consistent contractions leading up to the birth but my anticipation was so high and I was overthinking every twitch. I was dilated 2-3cm for weeks and had my membranes stripped twice actually (you’re reading a birth story so I imagine you are expecting to read things like stripped membranes but if not, you should probably stop here..). It worked both times but my cervix literally closed back up after a week; he was not ready! But on the eve of being one week late (May 9), I started having more contractions, not evenly spaced apart but at least they hurt and I knew something was happening. I’d been texting with my doula to keep her updated but around 11:30pm, I was at a standstill. It wasn’t really progressing. Around midnight she sent a text suggesting I try and sleep for a little bit and I reluctantly agreed.
When I woke up, Kate was snuggled next to me (which I didn’t remember happening) and it was 1am on the dot. I stood up and instantly was bummed, I had slept off my contractions. I went downstairs to turn off lights and boom! One of the heavy hitting contractions came. I got in position in the bathroom to start my early labor and before I could take a beat, the next contraction came and with power. That was all it took, I knew the pain level was high enough that we needed to get to the birth center right away. I woke up James, grabbed our bags and we filed out into the quiet street to load up. We called, gave the heads up and were there within a few minutes.
My contractions were quick and painful and I was breathing through them and focusing as best I could. I walked up the stairs to the birthing wing and the attendant at the desk directed us straight into our room. I didn’t hold back with my grunting and such and I think the nurse got the idea that I was ready for business. They called in a nurse for my IV (always required to get this because of my former c-section, always reluctant!) and I got into a gown, all the while working through contractions with James applying pressure on my back. The nurse got me on the table to check me and I was at an 8! Thank goodness..
At this point, it was about 1:40am and the nurses proceeded to try and get my IV in. After 20 minutes of IV poking and pausing for incredibly strong contractions, they finally decided to go through a huge vein in my arm which is a super inconvenient spot, but I just wanted that part to end. At 2am-ish, as soon as the pricking nurses left, I felt a downward urge to push. The contractions were at their strongest and I knew it was time. They brought the doctor in and she checked me out and said, push when you’re ready. Praise the Lord! I couldn’t remember a time when the doc gave me the green light so quick. She encouraged me like I was a seasoned pro! At this point, my water hadn’t actually broken. She mentioned it as I was pushing and I realized.. I’m pushing this baby out in the water bag?? Jordan’s bag of waters was still intact, and while that sounds like a cushy soft type of push, it was so much pressure and so uncomfortable, not like those soft slick little baby heads.
Finally one of my pushes felt like it was getting somewhere and pop!—I kid you not the bag popped and sprayed like the splash zone at Sea World. I was mortified, But they kindly rejected my apology. Yes, I apologized because you know what, I find that it’s a decent thing to do when you’re embryonic fluid splashes across your OB’s face 🙂 But with the splash, came Jordan’s head! Which provided some pressure relief. But then she said, “let’s give another push to get his shoulders out”—what!? So with another grand push came the rest of little Jordan who immediately was scooped up and before being put in my arms, let out a mid-aerial poop and got that first meconium out of the way.
BM aside, moments of pure joy, elation and relief (nothing like that instant relief) ensued and we embraced that first beautiful moment with our little boy! I was so thankful to see him, see his face, hear his sweet cry and have him out of my belly! He instantly rooted and we began nursing as everyone fluttered about. He also proceeded to pee all over me as we sat there, which just seemed endearing in the moment. I honestly could care less, I was so happy to be holding this little bundle. He weighed in at 8lbs 4oz, which explained the second shoulder push and was our biggest babe! The minutes and hours to follow were spent sleeping, recalling the evening and soaking up the entire beautiful experience.
I was so struck how much this birth had required of me, especially emotionally. It is a wonder how much these created bodies can do! And even though you’ve done something before, it isn’t a given that things feel easy breezy. I was nervous, I was aware of the gravity of it all, more than I’d ever been. I was both amazed with my body and sobered by what it would be doing. Things went fairly smooth—and I’m so grateful for it, but I knew more than ever that continuing to reach out to each other as we embrace these moments is so vital. Incredibly thankful for this healthy, wonderful delivery and blessed beyond measure to have our sweet Jordan Levi here with us!
Sherpa sweatshirt | Boots | Planner | Fresh wreath | Candle
Some fall items! I can’t let this moment of Sherpa go by without some sort of acknowledgement of it’s furry fluffy goodness. And yes, we can’t miss sherpas most shining moment in the Will Ferrell, Nicole Kidman’s “Bewitched” which is actually a severely underrated movie (“sherrrppaaa”).
I also picked up these boots in the great Target debacle of last weekend when I realized on Sunday morning of our kids baptism that I pretty much had the option of workout Nike’s, Vans or truly tattered leather slides, which could have worked but honestly, my feet were in no place to show off. I proceeded to try to order a series of five different pairs of shoes in a row through the Target app and one after another kept shooting back with an email that the associate couldn’t find the shoe in the store. I’d like to think I’m responsible for getting their shoe inventory in check that day or now realizing that I probably seriously annoyed the pick-up team. So on the way to the baptism, I ran in and found these beauties and couldn’t be happier.
And then there’s my all time favorite fall candle and a journal I love. I am always collecting and journaling in calendars and this particular brand I love. I think it must be due to years of writing things down in an academic calendar throughout school, but I can stop myself and for whatever reason, I get my best thoughts out in an academic calendar.
As the years go on, I find myself thinking, come fall and winter, that the addition of fresh greenery in the form of a seasonal wreath is nearly mandatory, if not very necessary. Won’t you join me? Really love this one!
Last weekend we got to baptize our babes ♥ It was an incredibly special moment and one we’d contemplated, prayed about and researched for a few years now. When Luke was born, we had dedicated him and when Kate came along, we did the same thing. Both dedications were beautiful moments! And as time has went on, around the time that Emma came along, our understandings shifted from our own personal bible study and exposure to other practices from the historical church.
I’m so behind. So so behind. I am troubled by my behind-ness (a questionable adjective). I am two months late for this birthday post. So late, in fact, that I’m now a day late to my own birthday post (the horror). But here I am, you guys. I can’t stop, won’t quit now. Birthday posts are terrifyingly par for the course around here, and of course, by that I mean that it’s pretty much ALL I’ve conceivably been able to eek out Continue reading “Emma is/has been 2! Plus other thoughts”
Jordan is five months tomorrow! So as one does, I shall post his four and five month update. Nights have been late recently so Jordan is kicking my booty sleep wise but lucky for him, I am so smitten with his stage right now. He is so smiley and coos so much, and loves chattering to himself. He is also starting to play with toys and his toes too and it’s so sweet to see him roll around grabbing on his little feet.
Luke is off and running to his first day of elementary school! I can vividly remember five years ago, when Luke was 6 months old, sitting on the couch talking with James about school and we laughed as we realized it’s FIVE years away. Well bam wham thank you ma’am, that went fast. Continue reading “Luke, first day of Kinder”
So behind but determined to keep this up! These are some photos from the last twelve weeks.. life threw us a curveball in June and landed us in the hospital for Jordan’s one month mark (and Father’s Day too!). Originally we had taken him in as a tag-a-long to Luke’s check up at our doctors office, and I’d felt like he’d been warm that morning, even though we weren’t registering a temperature underarm. But once there, they registered a high fever and sent us straight to the E.R.
Continue reading “Jordan, months 1, 2 and 3”
Well I’ve been pretty quiet on here since entering newborn land, which included hospital land and now includes keep-four-kids-alive while James goes back to work land.. HA. We are staying afloat, eating food (although grocery shopping Continue reading “Catch up!”
We are in total and utter love with our newborn baby boy Jordan!! He came Friday, May 10 at 2:39am! 8 pounds, 4 ounces of pure love. Perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day this year..
