Logan's Birth Story

***Disclaimer, this is a birth story and trust me I left the really gross stuff out but left it real.***

On May the 14th I was 7 months pregnant and feeling a little under the weather.  My husband begged me to go to the hospital and I said no.

On May the 15th I was still feeling bad and again my husband asked me to go to the hospital again I said no, but I promised if I was not feeling better the next day that I would go.

On May the 16th I was still not feeling well and for once I actually listened to my husband and against my better judgement I went to the hospital.

I was not bleeding and I was not having contractions, but I had a strange discharge and I was felling, well the best I can put it is, strange.  I went in to the hospital thinking I will make my husband feel better and I will be vindicated when they say that I am just tired and nothing is wrong. 

They decided after a few test that I was just dehydrated and decided to pump me full of fluid and to give me a broad spectrum antibiotic because they thought I had an infection.  It took them several time to find an I.V. because I was so dehydrated and it was actually nice to be able to lay down with all those people fussing over me.  The did a vaginal exam and stated that all was fine, I was not dilated.  Shortly after my exam I started having contractions and they got a little worried but quickly gave me medication to get them under control, over the next few hours I had two doses of the medication and my contraction finally stopped and they sent me home with the promise that I would keep drinking water and that I would see my doctor if I felt ill again.  This was around 11:00 p.m, we live about a half hour away from the hospital my husband took me to that day and had been gone most of the day so I was glad to get home and get into my bed.

Around 3:15 I was awoken by a very bad dream and a strange pain, I of course thought it was just Braxton Hicks.  After a few minutes of these strange pains I realized two things, it was contractions and they were getting really close.  I woke up my husband and told him call him mother to come stay with the kids and to get dressed because I needed to go to the ER.  He jumped into action and in no time we were on our way.  I had a serious of 7 contractions on route to the hospital, this time we went to the closer one which was only 15 minutes away. 

Once we arrived I knew things were bad because when I got out of the car I was bleeding.  I walked into the ER and was wheeled back immediately once they got me in the room to change everyone realized I was bleeding heavily and that things were not alright.  I let the nurses know that I wasn't due for 2 more months and they let me know that this baby was coming right now.  They were in the process of shaving, catheterizing and prepping me for an emergency C section when they noticed that my son was crowning.  As the doctor walked into the room he saw the situation and immediately sprang into action.  I pushed two times and out came my son, along with the placenta which as you might know is not a good thing.  Somehow my placenta had detached and that was the cause of my premature labor.  In less then 5 minutes my son was born, 3lbs 15oz and rushed to the nursery to help stabilize him and help him breath. 

I say my son for a few minutes before he was prepped and readied to head to the NICU of a different hospital 1 hour away from me.  It broke my heart when they brought him in my room in an incubator, but I was relieved that so many people were working so hard to take care of him.  The nurse practitioner assured me that they would do there best and that they would call me once he arrived and was settled.

Logan was given surfactant to help strengthen his lungs and was only on the ventilator for a few hours.  He was on oxygen for a while, but his levels were very low.  Our beautiful baby boy spent  a little over 3 weeks in the NICU and came home a whooping 5lbs.  It was one of the strangest deliveries for me and since the was #6 it was not what I expected at all. 

I learned a few things from all of this.
1. I am not as strong as I thought I was, but I am stronger then I care to admit. (crazy I know)
2. Babies are so strong and such fighters.
3. My husband is my rock and I need him, even when I don't think I do.
4. When you don't feel "normal" or "right" go to the doctor because it could be something serious.
5. NICU nurses are awesome and I am blessed for the wonderful angels that helped our family.

In the end I got my son,he is home and I got out of being 9 months pregnant during the hot summer in the California heat.  Now I am just waiting for the next crazy adventure with my family

Diapers, Diapers, and more diapers

The past few weeks we have been using disposable diapers since Logan came home and I always knew during this pregnancy that I wanted to use cloth.  I actually have a little stash started.  The only thing I don have is diaper covers so I spend the last few days looking for the best covers.  It turns out after much research that I want to give gdiapers a try.  The seem to be the best for me because I don't want to have to do a lot of extra laundry and although I will be using the washable inserts instead of the disposable it will be more convenient for me.  I have seen both the pros and cons and feel like I at least want to try them for a few weeks to make up my own mind.  I spend several house on the gdiapers website and I would of course love to have the newborn package, but right now the price is just to high for us.   Currently I am looking on eBay to get a few covers to start and if I like it then I will invest more money, right now I am hoping to win a 2 pack on twitter via  Wonder & Wander.

I look forward to testing them out and letting you know how they work.

Jayde

Happy 4th of July

This year we will be doing the solo barbeque without all the family around and I am actually looking forward to it.  My husband will be at work until 2 so It will be me and the kids home all day and my oldest daughter and I have some cooking to do and a few crafts with the girls.  My husband is getting excited about fireworks and letting the girls holds some sparklers.  I am just hoping no one gets hurt or burned.

Its the small holidays with just our close family that I really love and I am looking forward to a quiet and peaceful day of fun.  I wish your family fun and safety on this 4th of July

Terrible, Terrible 2's

Things at our house have been kind of interesting lately and its only getting worst.  A new baby is one thing, but a busy 2 year old is another.  She has taken on a new persona since dear "Baby Logan" has come home.  Scream and crying is now her new art form and believe me she has super human lungs that will disturb your nerves in only minutes.  Adding a new person to a family is never easy and adding a new person to a 2 year old life is also full of issues. 

She is a beautiful child who is ready to take on the world or at least take it apart.  L3 has been the baby for 2 years now and she played her part well.  Right now we are dealing with the terrible 2's as well as the need to be the center of attention sprinkled with the desire to be potty trained.  Its a hard cocktail to swallow, but its what is being served at house all day everyday.  I find myself losing patients with her because her Independence is unnerving to say the least during the time of shift to our family. 

L3 can be super helpful and down right dangerous in the same moment.  We decided while I was pregnant that she would never be alone with the baby at any point.  So far she has done minimal damage, but not without trying.  More and more everyday she amazes me with her ability to be the strangest, cutest, and silliest child around.  2 is a hard year for not only the adults but also the other children, she has worn out her sibling as well.  We have all decided that we will give her the chance to turn 3.  Yes she will continue to grow and change and amaze us and surprise us each day, but we hope that she will run out of some of her energy soon before we are all completely exhausted and unable to keep up with her. 

Loving, learning and looking forward to growing with her.

Happy Father's Day

Today is the day we celebrate the men in our lives who have been fathers or father figures to us or our children.  I am celebrating this day with my husband or at least we will later when he is up.  I will of course call my father and grandfather to wish them a wonderful day. 

Father's Day is both happy and sad in our family.  On this day I am reminded of my oldest daughter's father who passed away when she was still very little.  It has been 8 years now and it still makes me cry to know that he is not here to watch her grown and change.  He was a wonderful father and  not only loved our daughter but also loved my )our) son.  He came into my life with 4 children of his own and I came in with one.  It was a very complicated situation for most people but not for us.  We found a way to make it work and all 6* of our children loved our large and unusual family.  My late husband made a point to never make my son feel like he was less then.  My oldest son was only 3 when I got married but since that day he was always Louis's son and no one could deny that.  He still claims him as his first Father to this day.  He loved all of our children and it was a sad day when we lost him.  But we can look back on all the wonderful times that we had together as a family and how amazing he was as a father. 

My son and daughter are both very lucky to have had a wonderful father and to also be blessed with another man who was willing to walk into my life and take on the role of father to two that were not his own.  My current husband is younger than I and had no previous children, but came in with his eyes and heart open.  It has not been an easy road but he has stuck with it and it has paid off.  We now have a total of 6* children and 4 are ours but no one could tell that he has not been here the entire time. 

It is not easy to parent someone else's children and any man who is willing to step in and try to be not just a parent but a true father to your child is a special person.  In my life I have been lucky enough to truly fall in love 2 times and both times those men have chosen to be part of my children's life. 

So on a day like today, I celebrate the men in my family who have made my life so wonderful by being amazing fathers.  To all the fathers past, present, and future.

Note:  If you were keeping count, yes that is a total of 10 children that I have had a hand in raising over the last 16 years they don't all live with me, but they all still call me Mom. (4 step and 6 biological)

The first full week of having all the kids at home was overwhelming to say the very least.  Its not easy to juggle all the ball I had in the air and I have to admit that I am very tired. The baby is doing great he has even gained a few ounces while being at home.  We had two doctors appointments this week and we have a total of 4 next week.  My teen dd went to camp on Friday and will not return until Sunday, its a academic camp and I hope she learns something.  My son found out that college might not be in his future at least not the one he wanted to go to.  I think I can talk him into a local college at least for one year, but he keeps talking about the military.  My husband returned to work and learned that he can sleep while the children are screaming and playing during the day. 

The next few weeks I am sure will give me a chance to get into grove and be able to handle all the kids at one time.  I have to be stronger with the girls and their lack of patience when I am busy with the baby.  I have also learned the best think to do is involve the girls in the diaper changing process as much as I can.  I have also made an effort to give each girl their own time even if just a few minutes of snuggle and kissing to make sure that they know they are still important and still love. 

The only thing I am really having issue with beside the lack of sleep is finding time to do my homework with out 500 interruptions.  I guess I will have to go with my original ideal of only doing homework when someone else is at the house or when all the little kids are sleep.  It means that I get less sleep, didn't think that was possible.  Best strategy so far is to keep a week ahead in my classes so that when I have off days it wont impact my grade.

As of yesterday Logan is one month old and our life is so much different then it was 30 days ago.  I thank God everyday for all the blessing he has given us and for allowing my sweet little boy to come home. 

Jayde

Night 3 at home and it still feels strange because he is so small. He is already handling his noisey sisters like a little champ sleeping right through the yelling and screaming. Hubby had a hard time leaving him tonight to return to work. Everyday is a blessing and every night is a reminder of how lucky I am.

Jayde