HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY, JADE...

Happy Birthday, Princess!

I love you!!!

Christmas Photo Shoot...

Here are some of the pictures I took of the kids all dolled up in their Christmas outfits about a week before Christmas.  I didn't take as many as I have in the past (I am guessing you get less with every child that's born) but I did end up with some I really love!

 

Jade's Birth Story...



I love hearing mothers share birth stories as well as sharing my own stories from the births of my three little ones.  And since Jade's birthday is tomorrow, I am going to rip off Rebecca's idea (The Kohler Kids) and put in on my blog.  (After all, imitation is the highest form of flattery, right?!)...

P.S. I couldn't find all the pictures I wanted to posts so these will have to do. 

Finding Out
Matt and I were married for about 5 months when I found out I had hypothyroidism (go figure, I have a lazy thyroid) and when I started researching the possible side effects and discovered infertility, that's all I could think about.  So, I decided I wanted to start trying to get pregnant as soon as possible in case it took a while.  Matt was on board but I think we were both shocked when that time of the month rolled around and nothing happened.  Kindda expected a little longer wait.  After a positive home test, I was pretty convinced but went ahead and made an appointment for a blood test at my general doctor's office that week.  Doctor told us he was sure the home test was accurate and blood test results a couple days later confirmed it. That weekend just so happened to be Mother's Day weekend, so we surprised both of our parents (and the rest of our families) with Grandma presents.  I will never forget my Mom's open-jawed reaction! :)  My due date was January 7th.

31 Weeks 3D/4D Sonogram

Pregnancy
For the most part, I had a really easy pregnancy.  Of course, I might not have realized that at the time since I had nothing to compare it with, but it was pretty smooth.  I didn't have too much morning sickness (except that to this day, I still will not eat General Tso's Chicken), still had enough energy to keep up with the 5 year old boy I nannied, and stayed within my healthy limits for pregnancy weight gain.  We had the most awesome nurse who got us an extra sonogram plus a 3D/4D sonogram for free (baby looked great but she wanted to be double sure of size because of my thyroid).  We fell in love with our baby girl before we even saw her, but it was so real seeing her little face and body on that screen!  Matt was working a job that was M-Th, so we had my doctor appointments on Fridays and he was always able to go with me.  Except for one appointment in December, about 3 weeks before my due date, when my ob/gyn was on vacation and I had to see another doctor in the practice and had to schedule it for a Wednesday.  Wouldn't you know, the one time Matt didn't go, I got bad news.  Based on my blood pressure, weight gain for the week, and protein in my urine, the doctor told me I had pre-eclampsia (I had NO idea what that was).  Then, the doctor, without explaining it hardly at all, told me in no certain terms to drive myself to the hospital.  She said not to go home and get anything, but to go straight there.  As much as I tried, I could not make it out of the office building before starting to cry and I was so scarred something was wrong with my baby.  I called Matt (I was balling by that point) as I drove myself to Blue Springs.  After running some tests, they decided it was pre-eclampsia and sent me home on complete bed rest except for 15 minutes a day to go to the bathroom and take a super quick shower.  I went back to the hospital on Saturday, which just so happened to be Christmas Eve, so they could run the tests again and see how things had progressed.  They decided I would need to be induced, so they scheduled my induction for the day after Christmas.  Even though I was still on bed rest, they said I could ride out to my parents house for our Christmas party if I skipped my shower for the day.  I spent Christmas Eve lying on my parents' couch and Christmas in bed but I could barely sleep that night because I was so excited and nervous for the next day! 

The Arrival
My induction was scheduled for 6 am, Monday, December 26th, at Saint Mary's Birthing Center. We arrived bright and early (well, actually we arrived before it was bright) and got checked-in.  After the usual long list of questions you have to answer and blood work drawn and such, it was around 8 am when they finally started the Pitocin to induce.  They had a monitor in my room where I could compare my contractions with 3 other pregnant women my nurses were keeping an eye on.  I started off the morning 'winning' and thought for sure I'd be the first to deliver, but baby had other ideas!  I spent the day laboring, but nothing horrible painful.  They did give me some pain medicine in my IV, and I gotta say I'd never felt like that before. After getting hooked back up to monitors after a bathroom break, the nurses realized that every time I got off my left side, baby's heart rate dropped in half.  Their best guess was that the umbilical cord was wrapped around her and causing this to happen.  I was told that because the baby wouldn't be able to handle the stress of labor, as soon as my doctor got back (she was delivering multiple babies at multiple hospitals that day), she would perform a c-section so they went ahead and prepped me for surgery.  Up until that point, I hadn't decided whether or not I was going to get an epidural, but hearing I would be having a c-section sealed the deal.  Since I couldn't get up to use the bathroom, I was going to have to get a catheter put in and was advised to get my epidural first and I readily agreed!  Matt held my hand while the anesthesiologist gave me my epidural in my back.  By the time that was done, I had labored all day and was still only at a 2.  I can't remember the exact timeline of the day and I couldn't find the journal where I'd written it down, but you get the basic idea.  At some point, I think right before they did the catheter, they broke my water.  Man, was that a lot of water!  Anyways, while I was dreading having to get a c-section, I was anxious for Dr. Doan to come so I could have my baby safely in my arms.  The epidural relaxed me and I was able to rest and even sleep for a bit.  When I awoke, the nurse came and checked me and in less than 2 hours, I had gone from a 2 to a 10, so they decided to go ahead and let me push. And push.  And push!  After almost two hours of pushing, the doctor decided the baby had to come out right away!  With urgency, she sent the nurse to get forceps and told me I had one more push to get her out or else she was going to pull her out.  I am thinking she should have told me that two hours earlier, because it worked and she was born.  Unfortunately, since the pushing was taking so long, they had cut off my epidural to help me feel to push, and it wore off in just enough time for me to feel the tearing, a pain I will never forget!  However, the blow us softened by seeing my precious baby girl!  She was kindda gray and looked like she was covered in cottage cheese but she was beautiful!  She was cleaned up and weighed and all that good stuff while I passed the placenta and got stitched up.  Plus, they gave me oxygen and I remember my mouth feeling so extremely dry and then it making me throw up.  But then, I got to hold my precious little baby girl and it was all worth it!!!

Jade Elizabeth Wheeler

Born December 27, 2005, 4:58 am

7 lb., 4 oz.; 21 1/4 inches long

December, Thus Far...

December has been a busy month so far, and we're not quite halfway through it, yet.  Since I haven't been blogging too much lately, I thought I'd do a recap of some of the highlights thus far until I get around to giving them proper posts.
*Shari, Jose, and Rebekah's Visit---It has been wonderful spending time with my big sis, bro-in-law, and niece who have been visiting all the way from Guatamala!  Unfortunately, Jose had to head back last week to get back to their other three kids, but he was sweet enough to lend us Shari and Bekah for an extra week! 
*Missions Conference/Church Holiday Dinner/Kids Performing---Wonderful Missions Conference that was held at our Church, Delicious Dinner, and my girls performing their British Christmas songs on stage with all the other cute little kids.
*Christmas Candy Making---Peanut Butter Balls, Chocolate Covered PB & Crackers, Oreo Balls, and Peanut Clusters.
*Christmas #1---Celebrated Christmas @ my parents before Jose left.  A Christ-focused time of fellowship, food, presents, White Elephant, and more!
*Colds/Flu---Yuck! Enough said!
*Girlie Day---Charming Charlie's (Jade's idea), Wild Child, and lunch with my girls, Shari & Rebekah, and Mom.
*FBC Raytown Christmas Pagent---They always do a good job of presenting the gospel message.  The angels are always my favorite part.  They appearently weren't Rebekah's, though.  She kept telling them to get down. :)
*Mason Turned 6 Months---I know I already posted about this, but still, it was a big day this month.
*Bekah's Birthday Party---we celebrated turning two butterfly style complete with games, presents, ice cream cake/cupcakes/cookies, face painting, and more!

Such a busy, but mostly great, month so far with lots more to come!

Mason is 6 Months Old...

I cannot believe that my little man is six months old already!  He LOVES his Mommy...and his Daddy...and his sissys!  He's such a happy boy and loves to play!  He also loves to people watch.  He expects Daddy to hold him THE MOMENT he walks in the door from work.  If he doesn't, he whines and cries until he does. (Yeah, he's a little bit spoiled:))  He doesn't really like to sleep--alot of the time, when he feels himself falling asleep, he gets rowdy and starts playing to try and keep himself awake (Isn't he too young for that?  I thought that was more of a toddler thing, but I guess not with all that busy boy energy).  Was really hoping he'd be sleeping through the night by six months, but I guess not!  He does love for me to smoosh my face on his cheek and give him kisses, though.  No teeth, yet, but I'm okay with that.  I love the gummy, toothless grin!  So, of course, here are some pictures from today...

Isn't he looking big?!!!

HAPPY 1/2 BIRTHDAY, MASON!

Thanksgiving 2011...

We had yet another wonderful Thanksgiving, with lots of things for which to be thankful! Shari, Jose, and Rebekah arrived safely the night before and it was so nice having my parents, us six kids, our six spouses, and 15 kids all together again!  I am blessed beyond measure and can't believe how ungrateful I let myself become at times.  I love that there is a day set aside that reminds me to count my blessings and 'Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!" 


Of course, I had to take some pictures of my kids all dolled up before they got any food on their clothes. :)

Here are my two handsome guys!

I still can't believe it was warm enough for the kids to enjoy getting to play outside!  This was a great distraction for them (and us hungry adults) while waiting to get to eat.  Layla was over-exaggerating with the big, heavy coat.  She had brought it for cousin Bekah to borrow while she is in The States and decided to give it one last try before sharing.  :)

The food was beautiful and delicious!!! 

We have to have several tables. :)

We have a 10 pie minimum rule!  I made the top and bottom middle pies in the second picture (lemon meringue and peanut butter luster).  And, believe it or not, the delicious sweet potato pie (complete with homemade crust) was made by my 15 year-old nephew.  It was yummy!  The turkey cookies are something the kids enjoy making with my Mom every year.

Mason's Thanksgiving bib.  The turkey's body was supposed to be his hand print but he didn't exactly cooperate so it ended up looking like this.  I'm his mom, though, so I still love it!

"O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

For His lovingkindness is everlasting."

-I Chronicles 16:34