Hospital Pictures

The next morning, Megan came to the hospital to take some pictures. I'm so grateful for these! 

She's not even a day old, but I think her features are very distinct. The first time I looked at her I immediately thought, "Udall"... my mom's side of the family. Especially her nose! Those pointy nostrils have Udall written all over them! :)

Thank you, Megan! I love these sweet pictures.

Birth Story

So Sunday night I woke up twice with really strong contractions. Both times I got up to go to the bathroom then got back in bed waiting for them to get worse so I could wake up Trav. And both times I just fell back asleep.

Morning dawned and I got Collin off to preschool, then called my doctor's office to schedule an appointment to see what was up. It had been over a week since my last appt. 

My appt. was at 10am and I left Weston with my mom, crossing my fingers that I'd at least be dilated somewhat. 

First, they hooked me up to the baby monitor and about gave me a heart attack when they couldn't find a heartbeat. The nurse gives me a concerned look and asks when the last time I felt my baby move was. I'm certain my heart froze. I instantly had tears in my eyes, just as she moves the monitor lower and finds the heartbeat. I don't know if I've ever felt such relief in my entire life. Nonchalantly, she mentions that the baby is a lot lower than she expected. Awesome, lady. Now go scar someone else for life. 

When the monitor readings checked out OK, Dr. Nouri did an ultrasound and exam. She told me I was dilated to a 5 and could go to the hospital if I wanted!! Talk about roller coaster emotions. Now I was over the moon!! I told her I'd rather wait and labor at home a bit more and go in when the contractions got stronger. I called my Mom and Travis to tell them the news and texted my sisters, Rachel, and Megan. I could start to feel the contractions get stronger, but I wanted to stop by the grocery store for a few things first. After that, I figured it'd be helpful if I had a cheeseburger to help labor along, so Wendy's it was. :)

By the time I got home, I had to stop occasionally between bites to get through contractions. Luckily, Travis was able to see all his morning patients and just leave at his lunch time to come home. Megan was a saint and took Collin and Weston for the afternoon. I started using my medicine ball to get through contractions. First, I'd sit on it and rock side to side. Then, I knelt down and rested my upper body over it to roll back and forth. I felt like a ticking time bomb doing that though as my mom and Travis sat on the couch and watched me. Around 1 or 1:30pm I decided we could go to the hospital. The contractions were feeling much stronger and I had to stop and close my eyes while they passed. 

The hospital is only a few minutes from our house and in no time I was admitted and up at the labor and delivery floor. They were pretty busy though and got me started in a recovery room first, because there weren't any delivery rooms available. 

I got changed into a gown and requested a medicine ball to continue rocking on. The room was really tiny. My nurse's name was Mary. She was a tall, slender, gray haired lady that had been working at this hospital for 20 years. My mom was great to be taking video of the whole process, along with pictures. 

My concept of time is a little skewed , but I think I was transferred to a delivery room after about an hour. It was much larger, but very dated. There was a little, box TV on an old stand, along with some 80's looking Indian decor. 

By now the contractions were getting so much worse. When I had gotten to the hospital I was told I was only dilated to a 6! That was just plain annoying. I had my Pandora radio on the Enya station, trying to muster some peaceful vibes and was still sitting on the medicine ball, bent over the bed. I guess a storm had started up outside, but I was oblivious. 

Travis stayed right by my side and put pressure on my back as I needed it. I wanted to have this baby without an epidural. 

The next thing I remember doing is starting to groan through the contractions. Mary checked me again but I hadn't gotten much past a 7, maybe 8. The pain was wearing on me. As the contractions intensified, I couldn't get comfortable. I had gotten on the bed to be checked and now I didn't feel like I could get off. Every time I moved I felt like it started another contraction. I was frozen in my place. I was starting to sweat. My groaning got louder and longer. I can remember just saying "ahhhhhhh" over and over again. After one contraction let up it felt like barely a moment before the next one started in. I could feel myself getting panicky. I had a grip on Travis's hand and he tried to help by staying near my face and reminding me to breathe. By now I was frantic. I was exhausted and could feel the gown and my hair sticking to my body. The pain was so bad that I couldn't hardly bear it. I felt like I was barely surviving, if that. I can remember as each contraction started I'd just writhe in pain and toss my head back and forth willing it to be over. I felt the need to bite down on something, anything. My jaw moved up and down, just needing to bite down. Travis's hand and face were so near mine, that I remember him joking that he needed his hands. Meaning, please don't bite my fingers... I'm a dentist. The joke didn't land in the moment. :) I begged to be checked again. Now they said I was nearly at a 10, but not quite. I couldn't do it anymore. I was done. D.U.N. Dun! I couldn't imagine worse pain. I couldn't take it anymore. I asked if I could have an epidural. I remember the nurse and Travis just looking at me like I was crazy. They knew I was on the brink of having a baby, but I didn't care. I wanted it.Trav kept telling me I was almost there. That I could do it. I wanted to believe him, but I didn't. So I begged for drugs. Any drugs. Just give me drugs! So 10 min. before I had her, they put something in my IV. I didn't feel a difference. They started preparing the room and I could feel pressure and the need to push. I just wanted to push so bad. I wanted it to be over. The doctor was doing a c-section, so they called in the midwife. My mom was videotaping off and on from the corner. They wanted Travis to moved down so he could hold one of my legs, but I wouldn't let go of him. I was grabbing onto the poor man for dear life in a vice like grip. So they asked my mom to come hold a leg. When they said I could push, I did, but now, the horrible pain that I didn't think could get any worse, just skyrocketed. I remember screaming. It was the most painful thing I have ever experienced. Words don't describe it. It was just intense, hot ridiculous pain. Sorry to be so graphic, but I honestly felt like I was being ripped apart. After the first push, I guess her head was out, but I thought it was over. They told me to push again. I had no idea how I was going to do that. I sound like such a wimp! Women push for hours and I didn't know how I was going to push twice. I mustered everything I had left, which wasn't much, and pushed. And screamed. Again with the red, hot ripping apart pain. And then relief. Oh the relief! Again... words can't describe it. I was so spent. Emotionally, physically, mentally. Just spent. I could hear her crying and in seconds they were handing her up to me. I was instantly sobbing. I remember just crying and saying, "My baby, my baby" over and over again. I was so emotional. It was the most tender moment for me. I could hardly contain my love for her. I don't think I'll ever forget when they handed me my baby girl. The sweetest little thing. I wanted to hold her forever in that moment.

 It was also so sweet to have my mom there. She wasn't at the boys' births, so this was new for all of us. I was so grateful she wanted to be there. 

Then, after the initial moments had passed, I slumped against my pillow and emphatically commanded Travis, "Don't EVER let me do that again!" Hehe. For the record, he wasn't sure why I did it without an epidural a second time anyway. I had my reasons... they just all flew out the window when I was dilated to a 9. I think for the rest of the night, I had the thought at least 3 dozen times, "I'm so glad I'm not having a contraction right now. Life is so good when you're not having a contraction. :)

I also need to add, Travis is my hero. He stayed right next to me, in my face even, carrying me through it. He never stopped coaching me or encouraging me. The entire time I was having contractions... several hours worth, he was by my side, telling me to breathe. Telling me I could do it. I truly couldn't have done it without him. I love him more than I could ever say. 

The rest of the night is kind of a blur. She was born at 5:39pm. The hospital was only used to delivering maybe one or two babies a day and that day they delivered 6. And 3 of those 6 were within 1/2 hour of each other. Mine being the middle one. So after I delivered the afterbirth, I remember the midwife checking me and saying I didn't tear at all. I almost had to see it to believe it. If that's what it felt like to not tear, I can't even fathom the alternative! Then, the room cleared out and we were left alone for 2 hours! She wasn't even weighed until almost 8pm. 7lbs 2. something ounces. Travis left to go get the boys to meet her. He came back with pina colada smoothies from Megan. She is so wonderful. I had missed dinnertime, so that smoothie was the only thing I had to eat from between noon and 9pm. The boys were excited but subdued when they saw her. They have been so excited to have a baby sister. After that, Trav took my mom and the boys back to the house and got some Taco Bell for me. I had gotten a semi-shower and was moved into a recovery room. We had a little bit of time together to eat and hold her, before he headed home. That night holding my sweet Olive was sublime. I didn't feel like my heart could be any fuller. Like there was a way to be any happier or feel more love. I felt euphoric. And so, so SO grateful. I'm an incredibly blessed Momma.

 (And yikes... please excuse the excess skin showing.)

Waiting

During this pregnancy, I was anti any "I'm getting fatter" pictures. I know, I know, being pregnant isn't the equivalent to being "fat". But unfortunately for me, it is. I gain more weight elsewhere on my body than in my stomach. Why would I want to document that? I'm such a grouch. :)

However, my sisters continually were texting me for belly pictures. So I took a few. I don't even know how many weeks I am in these pictures. 24? 28? It's a mystery. I would guess I'm about 5 or 6 months in the first two and maybe 7 or 8 in the next two?? 

People always told me that I looked small for how far along I was, and in fact, I always did measure a little small. But that didn't stop my hips from expanding! I couldn't fit into any of my clothes from 3 months on. Sigh. I might be OK if I never see another stretchy skirt for as long as I live. 

So, after 2 weeks of non-stop unpacking, I was finally starting to feel like I could be ready to have a baby.

A day or two before my due date, I finally took the boys into the office for the first time to meet everyone. Travis happened to be doing treatment on a wailing 3 year old when we walked in. The boys had wide eyes as they listened to 30 minutes of hysterical shrieking. Little do they know their Dad's profession is the stuff of kids' nightmares. 

One of our last pictures of our family of 4. And no way, Jose, do we normally let our kids jump in bed with us! This was a rare moment of snuggling before crazy, jumping Collin got himself evicted in the morning. It shows the boys' personalities to a T.

My due date was Friday, Aug. 23. I groaned as I watched the day come and go. I took these pictures the Sunday before my due date.

The next day, we took the kids to the park and to see the movie, Planes. 

While the table top belly was starting to prove itself minutely useful, I was couldn't wait to get this baby outta me!

On Sunday, we had Stake Conference. I brought my crocheting with me to make a last minute hat for her for the hospital. I also brought my thermos filled with raspberry tea. It was the last of my gallon that I had started drinking at 8am. This stuff is supposedly a guaranteed baby deliverer. 

I was feeling nuthin'. 

When we got home from church, I was determined to walk her out. Travis didn't want me walking alone, so we took the boys and started huffing it around the neighborhood. Collin and Weston only lasted about 1/2 hour before they were complaining. So we went back to the house to get the stroller and continue walking. I was keeping a fairly fast pace and this time we decided to tackle a pretty steep hill by our house. I felt bad for Travis pushing the boys in the double stroller! 

Still no contractions! Bug! 

By now, I had blisters on my feet so I couldn't keep walking. 

Back at the house, we all collapsed and fell asleep. When I woke up, I started drinking more tea. I downed another gallon. 

My mom had called earlier to see how I was doing and it was decided she'd drive into town that night. Around 7pm it was raining and stormy, but I slapped on some mole skin and grabbed an umbrella and started circling the block. 

Do I even need to say it?... Nothing! I was so discouraged. 

My mom drove in around 8 or 9pm.

It was fun to show her the house and know she was here to help when the time came. I just prayed it would be that night! 

Collin's First Day of Preschool

We finally drove into Gallup to "stay" the Sunday night before Collin's preschool started. Megan was so amazing and kept scouting out potential places after our kids didn't get accepted into Rehoboth. 

So Collin and Lilly are now official students of the Gallup Catholic School, Sacred Heart.

They go on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am-12:30pm.

There is a uniform policy of navy blue, green or white polo shirts, and khaki or navy pants. On Fridays they can wear their neon green spirit day shirts with jeans if the choose. Always with a belt and shirt tucked in, however. (In this picture we didn't know about the belt and tucked in policy yet.)

On Wednesdays, they always attend Mass at 9:00am for 35-45min. The whole shabang. Prayers, wafers, singing and crossing. I went with him one time and was pretty impressed with how well the kids sat. To be perfectly honest, I thought it was a little gloomy. I also had a hard time understanding this particular Father with his accent and the way he spoke, but then I was also a tad distracted having all 3 kids with me. :)

I need to write down the things Collin will say when he gets home from school on Wednesdays. He'll usually answer very chipper and matter of factly, "Mass was good!" One time he continued, "The grandfather blessed that the grandma who died would be comforted in her sins." It will usually get an eyebrow of mine up. He doesn't always have as much to say about Primary!

They also came home with a sheet of paper listing all the prayers they need to have memorized by the end of the year. Including Hail Mary's and Our Fathers. We shall see. :)

First day of school. Such a cute boy! Those brown eyes and freckles really get me.

A lot of their pictures and art depict Christ with thorns around a bleeding heart. Collin came home concerned that Jesus's heart was always bleeding and hurting. Catholic art does seem to be rather dreary. I think a lot that happens here will create talking points for us at home.

After a year at Casa Montessori, I'm not going to lie, this preschool is pretty depressing. I really wish he could've done another year at Casa, but oh well. He seems to like it and enjoys going carpooling with Lilly. I suppose preschool shouldn't derail his life too much. :)

Zee New Casa

It was over. The crazy, manic summer was ending.

We had driven to Salt Lake City and back for a trip to see the Shaws and my brother.

We had moved.

We had driven to AZ for a week at the cabin with the Evans.

We had gone family camping.

Spent an impromptu weekend in Mesa for my birthday.

Driven to San Diego for a week at a beach house with the Lindbloms.

Spent another week in AZ.

Went to a wedding.

Add in many trips back and for between cities for work.

Travis calculated that this summer alone he had driven over 4,000 miles. So basically the equivalent of driving across the country twice.
It was wonderful.
And exhausting.
And now it was time to get the house ready for a baby.

We had dropped off our boxes in Gallup on July 13. With only 2 1/2 days of unpacking under my belt between then and Aug. 11, it was finally time to make it our home.

That Sunday night that we got back into town was another hard one. The time and effort that I knew I would have to expend to get the job done felt daunting. I had already packed and unpacked repeatedly this summer for trips. I was tired of laundry, organizing and cleaning. And I was tired of looking and feeling like a blimp. Unpacking a house right before your due date is..... I can't even think of a proper word. Woof.

Every day for the next two weeks I barely sat down. I spent one afternoon just scrubbing the walls. I not only unpacked... I organized, decorated and cleaned every square inch. The massive pile of boxes became the boys' favorite play spot. My feet constantly ached.

After a lot of waiting and pestering, we finally got some landscapers to come and take care of the yard. What a difference! It took 2 men, three whole days to do the job. 

After more pestering and begging, we finally got the carpets cleaned. I didn't even sleep the night before, afraid I'd go into labor and the carpets wouldn't get done. I can't even describe the feeling after they were cleaned. They looked soooo much better and I finally felt like we could start "living" here. 

Packing is a ton of work. Unpacking is ri.dic.u.loussss.
It felt really really really good to get it done.


So here goes the super detailed tour of our casa.

Our view looking out from our front porch.

3 views of our house, cuz I couldn't seem to get all the rocks in just one. :) 

But really, the landscaping all around is pretty expansive. Which is fun for the boys... not so fun for us when the weeds come back in.

That alcove beyond the stairs is backed with a huge mirror. So weird. But perfect for our Virgin Mary statue.

This is looking to the right of the front door after you walk in. The most massive room of the house. Completely empty.

Except for our teeny dining room table.

The hallway leading to the kitchen from the dining room. The basement stairs are on the left and the pantry is on the right.

The basement is unfinished. I think they had some flooding so the carpet got pulled out and new wood was put in. We're thinking this will be a great place for bikes and outside toys when winter hits. For now, it sits empty.

This is an extra kitchen closet across from the pantry that sits empty.

The pantry.... LOVE it. It's like a walk in closet for food. Might be my favorite part of this house.

The kitchen is so big it almost gets annoying having to walk back and forth 3 times just to get everything to pour a bowl of cereal. But now that I've gotten used to it, I love it. :) I love having so much space and being able to organize everything without clutter. And it's a really lucky thing I'm so tall. The cabinets are crazy high. I don't even use the top shelves.

One annoying thing, the water in the fridge doesn't work. I've never had a fridge with a water spout, so when we moved in, I was stoked to be getting rid of the ol' Britta pitcher. Welp, that bubble got popped fast. Soooo, we invested in a water cooler. Best purchase eva.

Need dirt? The boys dug it for the first couple weeks. Now they miss grass. We go on walks several times a week and there is one house on our walk with grass. The other day, Collin just sprawled out on it and rolled around, whining, "Why can't we have grass, Mom? I miss it!"

There is one bedroom and bathroom on the main floor that we'll keep as a guest room.

Laundry room that leads to the garage.

Upstairs! 

After moving from our NY house, I decided I never wanted to live in a house with 3 stories again. 
Too. many. stairs. 
So much for that wish!

I guess my butt needs the work out.

This is the loft that freaked me out because of the huge drop down to the dining room area.

So after lots of brainstorming, we put carpet tacking along the banister. It looks pretty medieval, but now I can sleep at night. 

It doubles as a toy room/office.

Down the hall to the bedrooms... the master bedroom is on the right.

There is a balcony outside the French doors, but we never use it. The master bath is on the right.

It has kind of a weird sitting room area with a closet beyond the fireplace.

Trav got that one since it was smaller than the other one in the master bath. :)

The master bath. My closet is next to the shower. 

The shower is also a sauna, but we never use it.

Oh, this closet spoils me. It's like a dream come true.

Then, there is a whole other closet right next to my closet that I use for sheets and towels.

OK, back to that hallway. The kids bathroom is at the end and the two bedrooms are on either side of it. There is another extra walk in closet through that door on the left.

This is that extra closet.

Kids bathroom.

Collin's room.

Weston's room, that will turn into Olive's room.

Perks of this house:

It's so big.

Downsides of this house:

It's so big.

The space is great, but I feel like my life is that of constantly walking around, putting things where they need to go. And if I need to go upstairs for something, I automatically look around to see if there is something I could take with me. I never want to make a trip up or down those stairs with only one purpose in mind. Always got to be multi-tasking to make it worth it!

Other random facts:

*I'm constantly killing spiders. Seriously, what's the dealio with that?! At least one a day.

*The house has soft water. Which means when you wash your hands, you have no idea when the soap has been rinsed off because your skin always feels slimy.

*There is an alarm system wired for the house, but we'd need to get a land line to turn it on. Never had one of those before! Not sure if we'll be going old school and getting one. :)

*The tall ceilings are great. The utility bills to cool or heat them, are not.

For how depressed I was moving in, I'll admit that my spirits rose considerably after getting unpacked and settled. We really are very lucky to have found this house. I'll try to be counting my blessings from here on out. ;)