We've had a busy and fun filled month with Aidyn.  When you're the youngest of four kids, there's not much down time.  So Aidyn has gotten used to always being on the go, and being packed around.  She's a good little baby and we've loved having her join our family.  I thought the allure of a new baby would wear off after a few days or even weeks but it sure hasn't.  The poor little baby can't get in a good nap because someone is always wanting to hold her.  I had to start restricting when the kids could hold her, so she can rest and grow.

We've had lots of visitors and we've absolutely loved it.  Aunt Michele was here, and Aunt Amber and her kids drove all the way from Las Cruces to come and see Aidyn.  There's also been lots of friends and family bringing meals and gifts, and we're so thankful for the wonderful people we have in our lives.

 At her 2 week check-up Aidyn weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and was 20 inches long.  She's already growing so fast.  She almost gained a whole pound.

 Since Ethan and Ally are gone to school most of the day, Ryan gets to spend lots of time with Aidyn and I.  He loves to hold her.  It usually only lasts for a few minutes at a time and he almost always wants a picture of the two of them.  He's a good helper though, and loves to bring me diapers and burp towels when we need them.

 

 I took Aidyn to have some pictures done when she was 3 weeks old.  They turned out so good. She was such a good baby and slept most of the time.  Mmm, I just love her so much!

 On St. Patrick's day, we went to some sand dunes with Bayley and her kids.  We didn't think Aidyn would have very much fun so she got to stay home with Grandma Debra.

Ryan cruisin' down the dune.

On your mark, get set, jump!  Max, Bayley, Reed, Ethan, and Javan

The aftermath.

Javan, doing a stunt.

Ethan jumping off the dune.

My friends Nicole and Heather had babies just a couple months before Aidyn was born.  So went Heather came home to visit we got together for lunch.

 At one month old, Aidyn weighed 8 lbs 14 oz, and was 21 inches long.  She's packing on the pounds.

Ethan was scheduled to be baptized on March 3.  Since we had family in town we decided to bless Aidyn that day as well.  She was only 10 days old.  It was a very spiritual and special day for our family.  And an emotional day for mom.  We are so proud of Ethan and his decision to be baptized and for the good choices he is making in his life.  We give him a hard time and expect a lot from him, and he's a good boy who is trying hard to choose the right. We couldn't be more proud, or love him more.  It was a big day for Javan as well, with 3 ordinances to perform, but he did an amazing job.  I am so thankful to have a husband that honors his priesthood and is in tune with the spirit. I'm so proud of my little family.  I love them so much. 

 My pictures didn't turn out the greatest.  But we're glad we got some.

 She was tucked out after being passed around and loved on all morning.  Her dress was still a little big, because I hadn't planned on blessing her at 10 days.  But she looked so beautiful and sweet, and was an absolute angel.

I'm such proud and thankful mommy.  And so blessed.

It's go time!  I'm going to go ahead and tell my birth story, just so I can remember all the details later.  So, at a doctor appointment when I was about 32-34 weeks along I reminded Dr. Fisher that I have always been induced at 38 weeks and that we should probably just continue with that plan.  He was on board, but said he was going to be on vacation for a few certain days and so he told me that Feb 21st would be the best for him.  Great!  Works for me too.  Any pregnant mother knows that if you are told a day you can get your baby out of your belly, and end your misery, that is THE day.  Don't try and change it.  Don't mess with a pregnant lady.  So I continued on with the pregnancy and my regular check-ups.  All was well and on schedule.  

Well, the blessed day arrived. I had an appointment first thing in the morning so I could get checked, see how I was progressing and make a plan with Dr. Fisher.  I had babysitters all lined up to keep the other kids.  My legs were shaved and my toes were painted (thanks to Ally). I was ready to go. At my appointment he checked my cervix.  Nothing was happening.  While my cervix was soft, I wasn't even dilated a little.  My heart sank.  But I still knew that he had told me today was the day, so I didn't get too worried. I've done Cervidil, and Pitosin before, not a big deal.  But then he said he was covering the ER in Blanding that day, and wouldn't be able to go to Monticello so I could have the baby. (Due to our insurance, I wanted to deliver in Monticello, at San Juan Hospital.)  He suggested maybe the weekend or next week would be better. 

WHAT?!?!  What was he talking about?  This is the day I had been planning on for a month now.  I couldn't even speak.  I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.  I knew I was about to cry and I couldn't stop it.  I just thought of all the days I hadn't slept, my aching back and ribs, my ever growing belly. I can't bend over, I can't sit up, I can't roll over.  I can't get my shoes on.  I have to pee every 15 minutes. I was ready to be done.  He told me to come back in a few days, to get checked again and he would start me then.  All I could do was keep my head down and nod.  I pretended I was putting stuff away in my purse and kept busy getting Ryan's jacket on.

We walked out of the exam room and headed down the hall, while tears streamed down my cheeks.  I was trying to keep it together so Ryan didn't wonder why on Earth I was crying.  Dr. Fisher popped his head out of his office to ask me a question.  I turned around to respond and he saw all my tears.  He asked what was the matter.  I opened my mouth to say "nothing," but all that came out was a big sobbing mess.  Dr. Fisher was flustered.  You know how all men get when women cry, Javan does the same thing.  He was trying to usher me into an exam room so I didn't have to be embarrassed crying in the hallway.  I just tried to tell him that I was fine, just very emotional and tired, and I expected it to be over today.  You could see the pity on his face.  He was totally stressed that I was losing it in front of him.  He quickly came up with a new plan. 

He told me to meet him at the hospital in Monticello at 6:00 am where he would start me on the Cervidil.  And since I wasn't really dilated he expected it would take 8 or so hours until the baby would be born, giving him time to come back to Blanding, see his clinic patients, and head back over and deliver the baby.  Sounds like a good plan to me.  (I know it was a lot to ask of the man, but seriously, I WAS DONE!  Don't judge.) He tried to give me a comforting pat on the back and sent me on my way.  But the tears wouldn't stop.  And neither would Ryan's questions.  I got out to the car and called Javan, who was waiting and ready to go when I gave him the signal.  I couldn't even speak.  He said "hello" and I cried.  He panicked, thinking something was wrong with the baby, and all I could say was "not today".

"I'm coming, I'll be right there."  What a guy!  He came home and hugged and held me for awhile and tried to assure me that everything would be fine, and tomorrow was soon enough.  I was trying to pull it together but I couldn't stop the tears, even though I knew he was right.  After awhile, I calmed down and Javan went back to work.  I needed to call my mom and Shan, who were going to keep the kids, and let them know about the change of plans.  The minute I started talking the tears started streaming again.  It was getting pretty ridiculous.  The rest of the day was pretty much the same, I was an emotional wreck and cried at the drop of a hat.  We decided that since we had to be at the hospital so early in the morning that the kids would sleep at Shan's as planned. We took them over that evening before bedtime, where I melted down again giving them hugs and kisses and telling them I loved them.

Javan and I came home and researched some methods for naturally inducing labor and had some good laughs while he watched me try to get my groove on and other crazy things.  ;) We had some dinner and settled in to watch a movie.

We headed to bed at about midnight. I woke up around 1:30, having contractions.  By 2:00 they were getting stronger and closer together, and I couldn't go back to sleep. I got up and went into the living room to watch TV. I have always been induced with my pregnancies so I didn't know what going into labor felt like.  I had installed a pregnancy app on my phone that included a contraction counter so I started timing my contractions.  By about 4:00 they were getting pretty strong and taking my breath away. I decided to go get in the shower and get ready to head to the hospital.  Javan got up and I told him our little tricks the night before must have worked because I was having hard and close contractions.  But being up showering and moving around made them slow down and I wondered if it was all a fluke.  We got ready and headed over to the hospital.

The nurses got me admitted.  We filled out all the paperwork, got changed, and hooked up to the monitors.  When Dr. Fisher came in I told him I had been having contractions for several hours.  He checked my cervix, and was very surprised that I was dilated to 4 cm and 90% effaced.  He looked at the clock and rubbed his chin and said, "this baby is coming sooner than I thought."  Since I had started dilating on my own I no longer needed the Cervidil, but he decided to break my water instead.  By this time it was about 7:00 am.  Dr. Fisher headed back to Blanding to see some of his clinic patients, but stayed in contact with the nurses over the phone.The contractions started back up, and were coming about every 5-7 minutes.

The nurse came in and said the anesthesiologist was going into surgery so if I wanted an epidural I had to get it now.  I had been contemplating doing an all natural birth for awhile.  I did it when I had Ally, and I felt the best after having her than I did after the boys.  (It may have had less to do with the all natural part, and more to do with the fact that she only weighed 5 lb. 13 oz when she was born.)  So I decided to go for it, and declined the epidural. About 8:30 the contractions were still pretty strong and really hard in my back.  I was dilated to about 7 cm. The nurse offered me some Stadol (pain med), which I gladly accepted.  She said we could try something else in awhile if I needed to.  It seemed to make me really sleepy so I could get some rest in between contractions.  Javan was awesome, and rubbed my back every time a contraction would come.  They were getting more intense and lasting longer every time.

About 9:30, the nurse came in to check me.  I was dilated to 9 cm and  moving quick.  I asked for something else for pain.  She called Dr. Fisher to make sure it was okay and told him he better head back over.  She left the room to go get the meds.  About half an hour later she returned without the meds, but with Dr. Fisher in tow.  And it was a good thing because I was ready to push.  Sure enough, I was fully dilated.  He ran to get changed while the nurses got everything ready.  And then the hard part began.

Each time a contraction would come I would push, and push, and push, until it felt like my head was going to explode.  And it didn't seem like any progress was being made.  Once the baby's head got closer he could tell that her head was turned sideways, thus the reason she wasn't moving down very well, and causing me such horrible back labor pains.  In one of the most horrific moments of my life, he reached in and tried to turn her head.  Let's remember that I am doing this all natural and did NOT get my 2nd dose of pain meds.  I felt like kicking him in the chest, it hurt so incredibly bad.  I am not one of those ladies that screams and yells obscenities during childbirth.  I am very quiet and usually just let out a little whimper here and there.  But this was one of my weaker moments.  I had a little breakdown for a minute right then.  I had a few good sobs and said I wasn't sure if I could do this anymore.  It only lasted a minute or two before the next contraction came and I pushed with all my might.  Here came the head.  A couple more big pushes and the rest of her slipped out.  Aaahhh.  It's amazing how in one second you can be feeling the most intense pain you have ever felt in your life and the next second it's gone.

But it's all worth it.  Because in the end, you get to hold a sweet little baby in your arms.  And see the miracle you created.  Everything is perfect.  Tiny little scrunched up face, sweet little pursed lips, cute little button nose. 10 perfect fingers and 10 perfect toes. Scrawny little arms and legs. Round little belly. Mmmm, this is what I've been waiting for.  I love to cuddle her in my arms, feel her warm little body on my chest, kiss her chubby little cheeks and whisper in her tiny perfect ear "Welcome baby! Mommy loves you!"

Here she is!

Aidyn Eliza Shumway

Born on February 22, 2012

at 10:58 am

6 lbs. 15 oz

 19 1/2 inches

 Although I was ecstatic to get Aidyn on the outside, she wasn't so happy. For the first few hours, every time she opened her eyes she cried.  She wasn't loving the outside world as much as the dark, warm womb she came from.  She did great though.  She latched right on, and loved nursing from the very first moment.

 Her siblings were so happy to have her home. And couldn't wait to hold her.

 In keeping with family tradition, the next morning Grandma Debra came and gave Aidyn her first bath.  She had lots of help from the other kids.

It's been such a fun week.  We've loved having a new baby in the house.  Ethan, Ally, and Ryan have been such good helpers and just want to hold Aidyn every chance they get.  Aidyn has continued to nurse very well.  She is a good sleeper, and gets up every couple of hours to eat.  We're so happy to have a new sister in our family.