Everly Rose Birth Story and Video

Everly Rose Birth Video: 

https://youtu.be/GehNkvFY5f4

Deciding to get pregnant again after 3 pregnancies of non stop sickness and misery, (especially my last pregnancy) probably the most indecisive I've ever felt making a decision in my life. I felt like I had PTSD just thinking about going through it all again. But Preston and I (mostly Preston) knew there was another baby meant to join our family. I always say it truly is a testament to my all encompassing love for my babies that I choose to do it again each time knowing what I was in for. 

This time was no different. I was sick everyday from week 5 on. Throwing up multiple times a day until the day she was born. Being pregnant definitely takes a toll on me, mentally, physically and spiritually. I feel like a shell of myself the majority of the 9 months. But at the same time I know I am uplifted and sustained by my Father in Heaven every time I think I can't make it another day.

 The weeks leading up to Everly being born I was so unbearably uncomfortable. And still throwing up multiple times a day. I was sure she would come a little early like Emmy did so by 38 weeks I was completely ready for her, everything was set up and my house was spotless (no easy feat with 3 kids and a shedding dog!). I was having false labor contractions almost daily for hours the week before which was so frustrating. It was all really starting to get to me and I had a few breakdowns just wanting it all to be over. By the time her due date came I was convinced she was never going to come and tried to resign myself to the fact that she might be a week or more overdue.

 I think that did the trick because the next morning I woke up to contractions at 7 am. Still tying not to get my hopes up, I went about my morning for a few hours, cleaning and getting ready for the day. By 9 o'clock they were getting stronger than any I had felt before so I gave my midwife a heads up I might be in labor and called my Mom to come over. I bounced on a yoga ball and hoped the contractions wouldn't stall out. They were coming every two minutes but I didn't think they were lasting very long. Around 11 my Mom and I decided to walk around my cul de sac to make sure they didn't stop. We walked for a good half hour until I could barely stand they were so strong - and that's when I realized I hadn't been timing them right. I was timing them at the peak instead of the start and they had definitely been over a minute and 2 minutes apart for probably an hour. 😅 after really not being able to stand without support through one I decided to go back inside.

Preston started getting the birth tub set up, my Mom called the midwife and luckily she was at another appointment only 10 minutes away. When she got there I was 9 cm dilated! I had been out walking through active and into transitional labor and didn't even realize it! 

My sweet Mom was my literally my rock. She helped me focus on my breathing through each contraction and reminded me I was in control and capable. She kept me so grounded. 

We got the tub filled up just in time. (with Preston having to get a bucket to help fill it up faster) I got in the water and Preston held my hand and stroked my arms through the worst of it. I reminded myself to surrender and that my body was made to do this and knew what it was doing. 

I was only in the water for a few minutes when I started to feel like I needed to push, my little baby had a nuchal hand (her hand up by her face) so my midwife broke my water to help maneuver her head down more. She came out without me having to push much at all (our bodies really do know how to birth babies!), and I got to help lift her out of the water into the world. 

The first time seeing and holding my babies are some of the most magical, sweetest, life changing memories I will ever have. I think Heaven truly touches earth when a baby is born, you can almost feel it in the room. Hearing her cry for the first time solidified the sweetness of the moment and I just couldn't believe I did it! She was here! All 8 pounds 7 ounces, 21 1/4 inches of her! (My biggest baby yet!)

Still so surreal how insanely fast it all went. I had my perfect little baby, 5 hours of labor total, completely naturally in my bedroom at home ❤ 

I would do it all again in a second for my sweet little Everly. 

37 Week Update

Sooooo this pregnancy I've taken way less pictures than I meant to! I knew I didn't wanna do as many as last time but I still planned on taking some...yeah didn't really happen! I don't know why! I guess the second time around it all seems kinda, been there done that. And it doesn't help that I still feel pretty crappy every night and throw up multiple times a day still! Yeah my pregnancies are ROUGH! No bueno. Like, seriously debating having a third kid, even though 2 kids just doesn't seem like enough...sigh. Anyways on to the update!

How far along? 37 weeks! only 10 more days! Getting induced a week early on February 1st! Wooooooooooo!!!!!

Total weight gain: about 35 pounds! But on the bright side i haven't gained any in the past few weeks! So since only a week left looks like this pregnancy I gained a total 35 pounds which is not bad :)

Maternity clothes? yuuuup! 

Stretch marks? Oh man. I didn't use any kind of special lotion this time cause I didn't get any last time, but man was that a mistake! I've gotten a ton around my bum and thighs! and another one by the one I got last time on my side. Suuuckkksssss

Best moment this week: Just playing with my sweet little boy and any time with my man. I just love those two! Jaxson is so much fun and so cute, I just love watching him learn and grow! I'm really taking these last few weeks to just enjoy it being me and my little boy while he's still my only baby.

Miss anything? Not being sick, being able to sleep on my back or stomach! Working out, feeling good enough to want to get out of the house, feeling good enough to play with Jaxson and run around with him. 

Movement: All. the. time. 

Food cravings: Just random things, nothing in particular these past few weeks. Mostly just hard to find things that sound good. It's usually nothing sounds good ever. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still throwing up almost every day, multiple times. Seriously so lame. Only 10 more days of feeling like crap!

Gender: It's a girl! And we finally decided on the name Alexi Grace. And we're gonna call her Lexi :) 

Labor signs: My appointment on Tuesday I was dilated to a 2 and 80% effaced. Tons of Braxton hicks contractions lately as well. 

Symptoms: Nauseous most the time, still throwing up, legs cramps constantly, and sleeping terribly, cant move without feeling like I'm gonna pee, can't breathe, well cause she's always kicking so far up in my lungs/stomach it feels like. Feel like my stomach is gonna pop haha

Belly button in or out?: Out so far out.

Wedding rings on or off? : On

Happy or moody most of the time: was feeling pretty PMS-y last week, not as much this week, just anxious and impatient to not be pregnant anymore!

Looking forward to: not being pregnant anymore! And of course meeting and snuggling my little girl, but honesty mostly just looking forward to not being pregnant! I'm scared for the painful post birth body/ beginning of breastfeeding pain/ sleepless newborn stage and all that. Not gonna be fun. So i'm really trying to enjoy the next 10 days but I'm just so sick of being pregnant. sigh. catch 22. 

27 Week Pregnancy Update

How far along? 27 weeks!

Total weight gain: aggghhhh too much! haha second pregnancy weight is no joke!

Maternity clothes? yup! All the time

Stretch marks? Just the one from last time

Best moment this week: uhhh...the weekend cause Preston is home

Miss anything? Not being sick, being able to sleep on my back or stomach! Working out, feeling good enough to want to get out of the house, feeling good enough to play with Jaxson.

Movement: All the time! Mostly if I'm laying down

Food cravings: This whole pregnancy I've been craving salty foods, and earlier on, spicy food. Compared to being pregnancy with Jaxson, I crave sweet things a lot more this time.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Ugh sick all the time! Don't throw up as much anymore at least but I'm nauseous ALL. THE. TIME! I thought it'd be better by now cause it wasn't as bad in the beginning as it was with Jaxson and with Jaxson I was feeling better by now! Wish I would just get over feeling nauseous 24/7!

Gender: It's a girl! So crazy! I've been in all boy mode for the past two years it's weird to think I'm gonna have a baby girl in less than three months! And man baby girl names are hard to choose! Still need to find one!

Labor signs: Nope

Symptoms: Nauseous all the time, still throwing up some days, legs cramps constantly, and sleeping terribly!

Belly button in or out?: Out

Wedding rings on or off? : On

Happy or moody most of the time: eh, feeling kinda moody lately haha just sick of being sick!

Looking forward to: Christmas!! Going to Bakersfield, my little sister Jenna getting home from her mission December 15th! and not being pregnant anymore! Meeting my baby girl :) 

Halloween Fun 2015

This Halloween was probably the best one ever, all because of our sweet little boy. He was the funnest, funniest, CUTEST little thing to watch trick r treat ever! Me and Preston were prisoners and Jaxson was a policeman. Or as I called it “Partners in crime and the officer who grounded us for life!” haha. So our first Halloween activity was a costume party with Preston's family, and Jaxson was terrified of the hat on his costume for some reason. He would scream if it even came near him. Crazy kid. But then on actual Halloween, we took him to the mall to go trick r treating there and we told him if he wanted treats he had to keep his hat on, and it actually worked! He was so excited that everyone was putting candy in his little pumpkin (or as he calls it, “buh-gah!”) he was so happy and he wouldn’t let me or preston hold his pumpkin for him when it started getting full and heavy. we would ask him, Jaxson are you getting lots of treats?! And he would shake his head yes so vigorously lol he was so cute. We also went trick r treating with Preston's sister Kelsie and her kids after that. He loved it all so much the next morning he went and got his costume and tried to put it on to do it all over again!