Happy Birthday Evan

Evan came home for a few days, for Nathan's birth. He was gone during his birthday. I almost went ahead on his birthday and baked him a birthday cake and then was going to call him and have all the kids sing "happy birthday" to him over the phone, but then I thought otherwise. The last thing I needed to do was upset the kids. So, when Evan came home, my mother-in-law baked a cake, Taneal frosted it, and we celebrated Evan's birthday . . . late. Happy Birthday Evan!

Cord Care

Usually my children take about three weeks to loose their cords. A doctor once told me that if they took much longer to loose their cord, it COULD be a sign of a bigger problem. If it takes too long, maybe their immune system isn't working properly and doesn't fight infections like it should. All my babies have lost their cords in ample time, but it does take a while.

I have heard in 3rd world countries that mothers actually put cow dung on their babies cords and the cord falls off within a day. It again is the bodies way of fighting infection. Of course I would never put poop on my babies cord, but I found that interesting.

This time the hospital told me to leave Nathan's cord alone, not to put alcohol on it like I have been instructed to do with my other children (unless the area gets red). So, I thought I would give it a try. And guess what? The cord fell off in a week and a half. Maybe there is some truth the the cow dung thing!

My New Family

I can hardly believe all these children are mine! I have FIVE children! I had all the kiddos loaded into the mini van and all the seat belts were in use when I think at that moment it really hit me. I am responsible for all these children. I love them all so much and so individually, but wow! what a responsibility. And wow! How I have been blessed!

Midwifery

I was able to deliver Spencer without an epidural, but it wasn't such a pleasant experience. I labored on my own, and it hurt! It wasn't a long labor, but I wasn't able to enjoy the delivery like I wanted. For Nathan, I switched doctors to one that was a little closer to my house, and in the practice they had a midwife. This caught my attention. I don't like putting all the medications in my body, especially having a needle inserted into my back. i wanted to have this baby medication-free, but I knew I didn't want to labor on my own like I had with the last birth. Plus, God gave me a body specially created for having children. I wanted to see what my body could do. So I met with the midwife and really liked her philosophy. It was my birth done my way. She only delivered at the hospital, she had been a labor and delivery nurse for ten years and then went to midwifery school for two more. She has had a lot of experience delivering babies. She was so calm. And, she wanted to do it my way!

When I found out Nathan was breech, I was 36 weeks. Danielle had been breech and I had to have the version done with her, so I knew what my choices were. A version that is risky, or a c-section. I remember thinking after Danielle had to be turned that I would not do that again. I would have a c-section. The risk was too high and I also had read too much on the Internet. So, when I had the ultrasound and then met with the midwife right after, I was of course bawling. She spent all the time I needed consoling me and putting my concerns at ease. She was so great. Of course now I knew that I couldn't have the baby completely natural because I would have to be induced or c-section.

The problem at this point was that my fluids were low. So, I was told be stay down and rest. My mom came into town for a week so that I could stay down. It was such a blessing because my fluids did increase, allowing a successful version.

Having a midwife deliver my baby was a wonderful experience. She stayed by my side (or at my back) the entire labor and delivery. She knew the pressure points to push to relieve the contractions, helped me with the breathing, showed me different positions, and made the delivery the way I wanted it to be. Heavenly Father made our bodies so amazing.

One of the things that my midwife is doing is making a book of all her deliveries. She has the mother write a message of what labor and birth mean to her. On the opposite page she has the babies feet prints. She is going to keep this in her office for other mothers-to-be to look at and also a way of keeping a journal of all her deliveries. She asked me to think about and write down what labor and birth means to me. While I spent the two days in the hospital holding this precious new baby, I thought a lot about what labor and birth mean to me. i am not very eloquent with my words, but this is what I came up with: Labor is a gift from God. Not only did He send us a precious baby, but He created our bodies as the tool by which He sends these miracles to us.

After having just gone through this amazing experience, I'm curious how you would answer the same question: What does labor and birth mean to you?

Acts of Kindness

I have been so blessed to live where I live and have the friends and family that I have. Evan started his new job the last week of July. The day he left for training, I was told to rest. I was really worried about how I was going to manage on my own until training was over. I called my mom and she came the next day and stayed with me and the children until Nathan was born. She did all my errands for me, grocery shopped, cleaned on my house, and made sure I stayed down. During that time, friends and people from church brought meals in. Another friend's husband mowed my lawn. I had so many concerned phone calls. Family and friends came over and took my kids to get them out of the house. I had so much help! The day Nathan was born my mother-in-law flew in from California and stayed two weeks. She let me get naps every day, did grocery shopping, put the kids down to bed every night, and spent hours after hours reading books and playing games with the kids. My sister-in-law and her children came during my doctor's appointment and cleaned my house! My neighbors took my three girls to church with them along with their own three. I have had so much help. My recovery has been great and with all the people taking my children allowing me to grocery shop and rest, I feel so blessed! My nephews are taking care of my lawn for me! My home-teachers came over Sunday night and gave my girls their back-to-school blessings! There are so many great people near that genuinely want to help.The Lord has sent so many people to help and I feel so blessed. I am being taken care of. I have not being left to do this alone, I have Heavenly Father's help and the sweet friends and family that He has sent to help me.

Nathan

We have been so blessed to have this new baby in our home. I absolutely love to hold me newborns and love the warm spirit that comes with them. Nathan has been a wonderful baby. I have been so blessed! He is very happy and sleeps so well. The last two nights he has slept five-hour stretches, only waking once to eat. Never have I had a baby do that for me so early on. I really feel that Havenly Father knows my situation and is watching over me and helping me with this new baby.

Nathan's birth went so well. I showed up at the hospital Saturday morning. They were a little busy so I had to wait for the operating room to become available, just in case the version did not go well. Around noon they were finally able to come in and turn the baby. It was so weird. The doctor and the midwife both worked together and put oils on my belly and turned Nathan around like you would turn the hands on a clock. Yah, it hurt, but they were successful and it was fairly quick. No need to use the operating room! Yay! The doctor left and my midwife stayed with me until the birth. Because of the version, I had to be induced, but because of that, Evan was able to be there for the birth. Funny how things work out. If the baby hadn't been breech, I would have gone into labor on my own (which I was set on doing) and Evan would have missed the birth. Because of the complications, he was able to be there, which was wonderful. I couldn't have imagined having one of our babies without Evan being there.

Around 1pm they started the pitocin. The labor got intense, but the midwife was there rubbing my back, helping me through the contractions with breathing and using a birthing ball. It was amazing. I know you quickly forget things after labor, but only about an hour was intense. Only about 15 minutes was I rethinking natural labor. I think I asked for an epidural about the time I was fully dilated, and the midwife was so nice and didn't tell me "no" even though it was too late. But I was so set on not having one that I asked and then said I didn't want one. Five minutes later Nathan was born. It was amazing. He was so beautiful. He was so sweet. And he was finally here, perfect. And Evan was able to help deliver Nathan. Welcome, Nathan! We are so glad you are here and that everything went so well.

Nathan Stephen Black

Nathan was born Saturday, August 9th at 3:44 pm. He weighed 6 pounds 10 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. They were able to successfully turn Nathan externally, which meant I had a normal delivery and Evan was able to be there! All turned out so well. The delivery was about three hours, and I have the most beautiful baby boy.

My computer hard drive crashed, so i am still out of a computer for another week. my good friend is letting me use her computer, so I will keep this short and post more later. Thanks for all your prayers. I couldn't have asked for a more successful delivery.

Baby updates

I had another ultrasound today. Baby is still breech. Frank breech, which means it is sitting on its bum with its feet up. This last week of staying down helped a bit because my amniotic fluid levels are up, within the normal range, allowing an inversion on . . . . Saturday.

Yes, Saturday in two days from now!

I am scheduled to go in Saturday for an inversion. If they are successful and can turn this little guy, I can have the baby normal. If they are not able or if I go into labor on my own before Saturday, the baby will come c-section. Not the way I want to go. Hopefully they can turn the baby and I can have it normal which will mean recovery will be so much faster. I was hoping to go into labor all on my own, but this baby has something else in mind.

So tomorrow is the last day I will be pregnant. I'm not sure I'm ready. I have mixed emotions. Strange, huh? I was induced with Spencer and felt the same way. At first I was excited and then a little anxious, and then just feeling not quite ready. I'm still very excited to see and meet my new baby, but it feels strange that the end of this pregnancy is here.

Breech baby updates

This last week I have spent "down". From what my doctor told me and then talking to many of you, staying down should help increase my amniotic fluid which should help the baby be able to be turned if he doesn't turn on his own. From home I have been trying different techniques hoping to get the baby to turn, tomorrow I will find out if it has been helpful. I have an ultrasound in the afternoon. If the baby is still breech, we will schedule an induction for next week in which they will try to turn the baby and then induce labor. If they are successful in the turn, I will be able to have this baby normal, although I will have to be induced. If they are unsuccessful, they will do a c-section. Or, maybe I will get lucky and the baby will have turned on his own and I can have the baby naturally.

So many acts of service have been rendered in my behalf this week. Dinner has been brought in, my lawn was mowed for me, friends have watched my children, and I have had amazing support. My mom dropped everything and came to help me be able to stay down. Evan has been gone with his new job and has felt so bad having to leave me, but knows I have been taken care of. Thanks to all of you for your love and support. I am so grateful and so blessed.

Computer Problems

Over the last week I have been trying to access my pictures on my computer so I could post things like the Pioneer dresses my mom made my girls for Pioneer Day and also pictures from Danielle's birthday, but to no avail. I finally called my computer savy brother and as I was rebooting my computer, I got the "blue screen of death" as my brother calls it. My computer completely crashed. My mom is here visiting, so I am able to use her laptop, but it contains none of my pictures, etc. I am going to be mailing my computer to my brother in hopes of him being able to back-up my data and restore the computer, but until then, I won't be online much. Plus, with the baby coming at any time, who knows what will be going on. I will try to keep you up-dated on the progress of the baby and delivery. Until then . . .