Caleb

Baby Caleb was born on July 16, 2009. He was 8 lbs. 4.3 oz...again a week early. I was induced yet again with him, at 39 weeks....really just beacause I had done it that way three times and it had worked out fine, and I was ready to get him out!

I went in about 4 am that morning to get started. By the fourth one, I pretty much didn't need much. My husband left at breakfast time to eat at Chick fil A. Then left at lunch time to eat pizza in the cafeteria. All while I couldn't eat anything and was starving again like i was with Joseph. I hadn't eaten since the night before! During this time I think I dilated to about 5-6 cm. But I have to add, I gave Nick permission to leave...but just think its a funny memory. I also remember breathing through some intense contractions, grabbing my bed rail and looking out thru squinted eyes at my snoring husband on the couch. But, really, he was so helpful :) I woke him when I had to go to the bathroom and needed to be "unplugged" :) NOTE: Nick is the BEST Dad and husband ever and I am so thankful he was right there with me through all my labors! I couldn't have done it without him! He will even tell you himself that the last two labors I asked more for the nurses that I did for him. I had some great nurses (shout out to Candace!!!) I also got my beloved orange popsicle again and was good to go! Usually by the time I'm telling Nick "I can NOT do this anymore, I'm going to die" is when I'm 9 cm and ready to push! And that was the case with Caleb too. No epidural, I think I may have had phenegren again when I started feeling sick. Out he came, with red hair and a giant nose :) He may well be our firecracker number two! I love that boy with all my heart...and he will be one year old TOMMOROW!! Happy Birthday Baby!! Momma loves you!

Joseph

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Joseph...aka Jo jo, was born on August 16, 2007. He was the biggest of all the boys, weighing in at 8 lbs. 7 oz.... a week early! As you can see, from above picture, I was a TRUCK with Joseph. This was why I was induced yet again. I could barely walk, it felt like he was going to fall out anyday, and I had so much pelvic pain I couldn't stand it. So when they did an ultrasound at 38 or so weeks and realized he was already 7 lbs. 13 oz....they said yeah, it think it will be ok to induce you :) Quite a jump from my two previous little seven pounders!

I think (sometimes my labors blur together a little) I went in the night before with Joseph and they started the pitocin early in the morning. I just remember being SO hungry during labor. I just kept asking for "just a little orange juice" or anything! The hunger I think was worse than the contractions! Finally, I was allowed to have an orange popsicle and that was the best popsicle I have EVER eaten....it gave me the strength to finish it on out :) Everything else pretty much the same, no epidural, I think I may have had some stadol or phenegran because I hate feeling nauesous. Joseph was the easiest delivery, I guess after two they just slide right out maybe ;) When the nurse announced his weight I sat straight up and gasped in amazement "8 lbs 7 oz???" He was easier to push out that my seven-pounder....I was shocked! However, he was apparently very blue-colored so they whisked him off to the NICU. I didn't know what was going on, but the cord had been wrapped around his neck, and cut off his breathing for a while. He was back within five minutes and healthy as a horse! That child was ready to eat the moment I held him, knew exactly what to do and went right for it....hasn't slowed down since! He is the sweetest little thing and I love him to death. He will be three in about a month! I can never get enough of his sweet face!!

Michael

Baby number 2....our little firecracker Michael! Born on November 21, 2005. Only 16 months after Gabe was born! Weighing in at 7lbs even, making him the runt of the pack. But what he lacks in size that boy makes up for in SPUNK!

I was also induced with Michael, but this time it was simply because my parents were flying in from Iceland and my dad could only be there two days and I wanted to make sure he met little Michael! I was induced just a day before his actual due date. Rather uneventful labor....except just Nick with me this time. I wasn't as quiet this time though...not mean or yelling crazy stuff, nothing like that. Just not quiet. No epidural, as planned and no high blood pressure this time. The only slight problem was michael was determined NOT to come out, we still joke that he was hanging onto my rib for dear life! They had to vacuum that little booger out, and he had a huge purple bruise on the top of his head for days. We should have know he would be our strong-willed one, when he refused to be BORN. Never thought my heart could love so much! He was very much a momma's boy from day one...and I still like to think he is! He is four years old now and I love him to pieces!

My babies!

My precious first born, Gabriel Daniel, born on July 22, 2004. He was 7 lbs. 2 oz.

Just to clarify, the picture of me pregnant with Gabe shows quite a bit of liquor, but don't worry, none was consumed at the baby shower..... :)

I went in for a checkup three days after my due date had passed. I was feeling fine, just very swollen and fat...but who doesn't at nine-plus months pregnant?! The doc. said my blood pressure was high, and bordering on pre-eclampsia so he sent me to the hospital to be induced. We quickly ran home to grab our stuff and headed to the hospital! I got evaluated and monitored that night and was scheduled to be induced early the next morning. I had my mom and dad bring me my favorite pregnant meal, which was a sonic breakfast burrito and tater tots. Even though they gave me something to help me sleep that night, I still couldn't. My sweet husband slept in the hospital bed with me (which looking back must have been pretty difficult for him since I was very, very huge....) He slept, I didn't. (watch for this theme in all of my labors...) I was just too darn excited about what was to come!! Around 6 am, the doctor came in and started the pitocin and later broke my water. I had my whole family here for this labor. Everyone except my brother Deke. Mom coached me through this one, with lamaze-type breathing. My sister rubbed my back and took care of my hair (thanks Sus!) dad pretty much just narrated the video tape he was recording. I honestly don't think I said much at all through my very first labor. Until somewhere around 9 cm I sat straight up and declared, "oh my, the baby is coming!" and indeed he was. A couple minutes of pushing and there he was! I had some complications with Gabe though. My blood pressure continued to rise through labor and they had to put me on some sort of medicine for that....I forget the name. His heartrate dropped dramatically once and they talked c-section for a while, but thankfully they turned me the other way and gave me some oxygen and he was fine. I had a couple doses of stadol (which really did nothing for the pain, but just made me feel very very drunk and loopy) but that was it! He was the most precious, handsome newborn I have ever seen! I loved that boy from the minute I saw him! And here he is today, at almost six years of age