First Day of School, 2016

We kicked off a new school year today! Each kid took a turn coming into my room for a private parent-student conference, answering aloud the questions I read them from the plaque. I wrote down exactly what they said.

Lily
First Day of: 5th (I can't even...)
I am 9 (She then thought maybe she should add a percentage, but decided against it.)
63.6 lbs, 46'6"
My teacher is: My Mother
I love to: Play on screens

I want to be a: Doctor or Vet (her normal answer is vet - I haven't heard her say doctor before.)
Favorite color: Purple (She went back and forth between purple and magenta, but finally settled on purple.)
Favorite book: Cam Jansen (We have been ordering them from the library as quickly as we can, because she is just blowing through them.)

Jacob
First Day of: 3rd
I am 8 1/4 (He was very specific) =)
63 lbs, 45.5" (Should have been 45.6", as in 45 1/2 - boo, my math.)
My teacher is: My Mom
I love to: Play video games (He speaks the truth.)

I want to be a: Scientist (I've never heard of this before...it almost felt like he said the first impressive thing he could think of, but who knows - maybe it's been kicking around in his head!)
Favorite color: All of them!
Favorite book: Ricky Ricotta (He then added Cam Jansen, too.)

Samantha
First Day of: 1st
I am 6
48.4 lbs, 3'11" (Ummm not sure why I wrote 11", considering the only two options were whole and half...)
My teacher is: Mama
I love to: Color (Really. Seriously. Girl can COLOR ALL DAY.)

I want to be a: Spy (You can't tell, but she is wearing all black behind that sign, because, silly, that's what spies wear!)
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite book: Snow White (She recently discovered my copy from when I was little, where something new pops out on every page, and she LOVES it.)

Elliot (When I first asked him his name, he said "E" because he saw that I was going to write and figured I needed help.)
First Day of: PreK
I am 4 (he actually said 3. This is the one answer the kids gave me that I didn't write. I just thought it would be too confusing when looking back. We've been trying to convince him he's 4 for the last two months, but he's still not on board.)
34 lbs, 33.6" (Again, I botched the height...not sure why that was so hard for me! haha)
My teacher is: Daddy (Apparently, Ryan is teaching him all sorts of things when I'm not around.)
I love to: Paint (We don't do a lot of painting at home...maybe he's trying to tell me something.)

I want to be a: Elliot
Favorite color: Green
Favorite book: Thomas ("The Thomas book with the dinosaur!")

Note to self for next year - buy real chalkboard chalk. The sidewalk chalk wrote great, but it was hard to write with the super wide tip.

St. Patty's Day Parade

Jacob, Lily, and their good friend Hayden marched in our county's St. Patrick's Day Parade with their 4H club, the Mad STEM Scientists. Since their club's banner was not ready on time (their poor leader injured herself while her husband was out of the country on business!), these three little stinkers were asked to carry the general 4H banner for the county, and march out in front of all the 4H groups!



For three kids who had never been in a parade, they did an outstanding job - they waved like they were famous and took turns carrying each end of the banner (Jacob did significantly less carrying than the other two).

Sweet little sisters (and brothers) waiting in the crowd to cheer on their siblings!



 

Lily's favorite part of the day was getting to spend time with one of the 4H poultry clubs before the parade.



In the evening, we realized we were all burnt - both the marchers and the spectators alike. We certainly weren't expecting to be sunburned in winter!

Samantha's First Lost Tooth

On January 12th, Samantha lost her first tooth! There was much rejoicing over being a "big kid" like Lily and Jacob. She was sitting in the car, about to take a bite out of a banana, when her tooth decided to JUMP out of her mouth and into her lap. She concluded it was afraid of the banana! (Elliot, after hearing the story, also decided he was scared of bananas, because he said eating one would make his teeth fall out, too!)

 

Today, a month and a half later, she lost the second tooth! It was hanging on by a thread, quite literally, and she honored her Opa with the privilege of giving it one final yank.



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More Teeth Posts

Thankful

This evening, I am thankful for this little stinker. 

The one who walks up to every, single person in church and makes them admire her fancy braids. 

Who LOVES to help in the kitchen - especially when Daddy is making apple pie. 

Who gets a kick out of adorning herself with stickers. 

Who is the stubbornest kid we've had (yet), but consistently charms the socks off of everyone she meets. 

And whose sweet face has been my lock screen since the day I got my phone. 

No plans to change it any time soon. 

Potty Problems

I went back and forth about writing this post. It is a little graphic, and it is a little personal for one of the kids. But in the end, I felt the need to document this struggle while it was still fresh in my head, not diminished or deemed "not that big of a deal" months later. Because it was a HUGE deal. I'm also hoping that if there are any other parents out there with a child going through the same struggle, they can be encouraged - maybe even pick up a tip or two. No need for us all to go through this alone!

That being said...

For the last 11 months, Samantha has had a problem. A poop problem. I started potty training her early December 2012, and from day 1, she decided that going #2 on the potty was waaaaay too scary and hurt too much, and ever since then, she has done everything in her power to just not go. Ever.

Little girl could and would go days and days without, well, going. It was a vicious cycle. The more she held it in, the more it hurt when it finally came out (and as we all know, despite her best intentions, it ALWAYS comes out), thus perpetuating the cycle. 

When push came to shove (literally) and it had just been too long, we had to find ways to MAKE her go. Every time. For the last ELEVEN MONTHS. It was physically uncomfortable for her, and emotionally draining for her parents...having daily activities dictated or derailed by a 3yr-old's bowel movements, or lack thereof. "I'm sorry, we're not going to be able to make it. Sam won't poop." I know this is a season of life and there are much more difficult or scary things parents deal with every day. Like seizures. Or MRSA. Or seriously horrible things. But knowing this is not the worst thing ever does not diminish the fact that it is still hard. 

The fact that it was all psychological on her part made it that much harder. I know she was scared, but this was her CHOICE. Or, as it started to feel as the months dragged on and on and I became more and more drained, it started irrationally feeling like, "She is choosing to do this TO US." We tried everything we could think of. Coaxing. Bribing. Logical  discussions. Threats. Ignoring it and pretending we didn't notice her [very obvious] discomfort. Prune juice. Miralax. Fiber gummies. Avoiding bananas. Loading her up with bananas. Eating nothing but oatmeal. We tried every angle. Nothing worked. NOTHING. 

For anyone else going through this looking for expulsion methods, here are some ways we would get her to go after she had held it for days, was in very obvious pain, and we could avoid it no longer: 

• Make her sit on the potty until she went. This was not as easy as it sounds. At the beginning, her gross motor delay came in handy because she physically couldn't get down, so she was pretty much stuck there, rocking back and forth, screaming. It was very sad. But as she got older, she would just decide she had had enough, get down, and leave the bathroom. We finally had to stand guard, holding her there, trying to minimize her extreme "I'm going to keep this from coming out!" rocking back and forth, which got poop everywhere, and was not the cleanest/most sanitary situation for her. This would take anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour. Each time. Did I mention the screaming?
• Not let her sit down / not let her hold herself. If she could not physically keep it in (which is how she went so long between going), there was no other choice - it had to come out. She would fore-go any activity if it meant she could stay seated and hold it in. She skipped swimming at the hotel pool. She skipped soccer. She skipped all sorts of things we know she really wanted to do because she was just that scared and/or stubborn. (After months and months of this, it was hard to tell the difference.) Not letting her sit usually involved putting a diaper on her and holding her in a bear hug just under the armpits, so her arms were up too high for her to hold herself. After only a minute or two of screaming, one of the screams would eventually turn into a very loud push, and I could breathe a sigh of relief - the end was coming, and we could take a break for the next couple of days until we did it all over again.
• Threaten her with an enema. Put it in plain site and tell her that one way or another it was time for everything to come out - the choice was hers how that happened. We only used these two or three times total in all those months, but very rarely did she CHOOSE pooping on her own over the enema. Like I said, nothing really worked. 

It got so bad that she just started leaking all the time (I know...TMI), meaning she NEVER really pooped anymore...she just lived in a state of perpetual uncomfortableness sometimes alleviated by a state of a little less uncomfortableness. When I got tired of all the underwear scrubbing from the leaking, we put her back in diapers during the day to contain the constant mess. But Sam is super smart, and figured, hey, since I'm in a diaper anyways, I might as well stop using the potty altogether. Nooooo not going backwards! So, after that, I regularly put sanitary napkins on her.

Yeah, it was fun explaining that one to her preschool teacher.

Most people with whom we interacted regularly knew the situation. Everyone felt bad for Sam. Everyone hoped she would make the decision to stop this madness ASAP. No one more than us. Our friend Kristin came over one day last month to pick up some videos, and noticed Sam curled up on the floor, uncomfortable, whimpering. A common occurrence, varying in intensity based on how long it had been since she had gone last. Kristin immediately took pity on poor Sam. She knew it was a psychological battle this tiny person was fighting, and she promised to pray for Sam regularly.

Then one day, two weeks ago today, after a horrible evening ending in a bear-hug, Sam woke up and decided, "I'm going to poop today."

And she did. TWICE.

 You always hear that's how it happens. That it's as simple as that. But when it's been SO HARD for SO LONG, you don't really believe it. It can't just STOP for no reason!

BUT IT DID.

That weekend, Kristin approached me in church with a very concerned look on her face. At first, I wondered what was wrong, and was amazed when she quietly asked me, "How is sweet Samantha? I have been praying for her every day." Most people would forget all about a preschooler's potty problems the minute they are out of sight, maybe think back on it with an, "Oh, that's gotta be hard." But Kristin didn't. She told me she had been going on prayer walks for Sam. That Sam's problem was so heavy on her heart. And she started literally crying when I told her the miracle God had performed just a few days before. Her compassion and love for our sweet Sam still overcome me every time I think about it, and there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord answered his servants' prayers.

Samantha has done her business every day for the last two weeks. Multiple times a day. Every time, I tell her how proud I am of her, and make a giant, astonished face - if I don't do it properly, she reprimands me and shows me how I should really be doing it - classic Sam. 

(Showing me the face I'm supposed to make) 

She has even pooped in the woods on leaves when there were no porta-potties to be found at Jacob's soccer practice. WHAT?! Pretty sure the other little lady in this house, who was fully potty trained in like a millisecond over four years ago, would be horrified and outright refuse if I asked her to do that.

Jacob would probably think it was fun...

(Silly goose)

I am almost afraid to announce this chapter of our lives closed. It was such a huge part of our everyday for so long, that I'm scared it will start up again one day, as suddenly as it stopped. But for now, I am trying REALLY HARD to appreciate the new Sam every day. She is a different person. She is happier. She is not crabby and whiny and irritable because of extreme, persistent discomfort. 

I am so thankful she no longer has this burden to bear, and that she overcame her fear. And I am so incredibly thankful that God brought us through this journey together.

My goodness, I never thought I could be so thankful for poop.

Simon Says SAM

Part of Sam's preschool time focuses on improving her delayed gross motor skills. (Case in point? She's 3 and still can't run.) Her delay is what makes these pictures so stinkin' cute. Like any of the ones where she's trying so hard to do anything on one foot. Her raised foot was in the air for like a millisecond each time before stomping back down, and I can't believe I actually got those shots. You'll also notice her serious, "I'm focusing really hard" face in some of those same pictures. Something I noticed for the first time here, the day Elliot was born:

I know it looks like she's bored to tears, but trust me: She was super excited to finally hold him.

Sam was imitating the squishy foam people that are part of the My Father's World's preschool package we got for Jacob when Lily was starting Kindergarten. The 1st red guy in the 2nd row is upside down, which Lily pointed out after Sam mimicked him standing right-side up. Hence the last picture where I am trying to hold her upside down. Oh my goodness, the laughing that ensued...She sure was a good sport.

I Can't Believe She's Not This Little Anymore

Last week, Little Red turned 3 when I wasn't looking...

Goodbye, Blues

Sam had another one of her random fevers last week - we're sooooo glad it's gone and my happy, silly, stubborn, chatty, affectionate girl is back!

Random Kid Update

- Sam's first day of preschool was last week, and Jacob started back at preschool last week, too. Sam cried for the first five minutes and then was fine.
- Elliot slept thru the night for the first time EVER two weeks ago, at six months. He did it once more this weekend. Here's hoping his nights of waking up to or three times to eat are finally at an end, because Mama's tired, kid.
- Yesterday, Lily finished "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" - phew! And last week, she finished the first Handwriting Without Tears book (it's orange). A couple weeks ago, I had switched her from Explode the Code (ETC) book 1 to book 2 before she finished book 1 because I thought it was too easy for her, but then she was making too many mistakes in book 2, so I'll have her finish book 1 before moving her on now.
- Two weeks ago, Jacob finished "Get Ready for the Code" - the first ETC primer. Now he's on "Get Set for the Code." He has absolutely no problem with the phonics in this book and should probably be on book 1 with Lily (he's on lesson 36 of "...100 Easy Lessons). I'll probably skip "Go for the Code" and put him right on book 1 when he's done with "Get Set..." The problem is he's sort of able to properly form letters with lots of help and concentration, but still prefers scribbling and very quickly loses focus, so the two required skills for this book are so far apart from each other (reading and writing) that I feel strange advancing jumping him ahead for one reason when the other is so far behind.
- Samantha is still an excellent color-er.
- Elliot has now tried rice cereal, bananas, applesauce, avocados, broccoli, pancakes, whole milk yogurt, and I'm sure lots of other things, but he still HATES it all. Except for this one random night, he was very happy with all the broccoli Ryan was finger-feeding him off his plate while holding him during dinner, but I was not happy with him waking up ALL NIGHT because, HELLO? broccoli?? Actually, food usually makes him throw up. Literally. First the avocado and then the yogurt. He gets it anywhere near his throat and he gags so hard he pukes all over. So what do you do with a kid who won't take a bottle and won't eat?!?!
- Lily's self-proclaimed favorite subject is math. She's currently doing addition and uses her fingers to add (I need to start drilling her with flash cards soon). It's very rare that she gets one wrong, though her 7s and 9s are frequently backwards.
- On that same note, Lily has had a lot of trouble distinguishing between b's and d's the last couple of months, which is kind of strange because she didn't used to have this problem. Can a child develop dyslexic tendencies with certain letters/numbers AFTER not having any?
- Jacob's favorite school book is his Kumon Tracing book. He could care less that he's already done each page at least twice and is happy to continue tracing over what he's already traced before. I'm just happy that he'll sit and properly (and eagerly) hold a pencil for long periods of time, regardless of what he's doing.
- Sam hates pooping. TMI? She could hold it in forever, but as the days wear on and she becomes increasingly, obviously more uncomfortable and therefore crabby, we have to force her to sit on the potty until she poops. (Fortunate for us she's a little delayed in her gross motor skills and can't get off the potty herself, so she has no choice.) There is much screaming - half in anger at us, half in pain/fear of the poop. But she is always sooo happy and relieved the minute it all comes out. Though her poop stops up out toilets. Seriously! No matter which one she uses, we have to unclog it after every time she goes, because she holds it in so long, it's like trying to flush a baseball. There is much prune juice and fiber gummies in her every day life. She's doing great with potty training otherwise...
- At his 6mo checkup, Elliot was in the 2nd percentile for weight. Argh.
- Lily has a super loose tooth. We discovered it almost two weeks ago and it's now hanging on for dear life. It's on the bottom amidst three other not-as-loose loose teeth. She's afraid to just pull it out bc it's the first one and she's not sure what will happen, but I don't see it staying put thru tomorrow. I'm so excited for her! Better get my Tooth Fairy pennies ready...
- Elliot sat unassisted for about 10 seconds today.
- Jacob is restless and frustrated. I'm wondering how to better boost his morale and encourage him more. And how to ultimately stop.the.WHINING. Sometimes I think he's just bored, but when I give him things to do I think he'll like, he just complains or quits or finds an excuse to get mad about it. I'm not sure what to do with him...
- Elliot rolled over from belly to back at three weeks, from back to belly at 4 1/2 months, and started rocking on his hands and knees two weeks ago (at six months). I finally caught it on video yesterday. He's so desperate to get moving and get into everything! I'm not looking forward to having to use the baby gates all over again, having to remember to keep the basement door closed, keeping all the little Barbie shoes and hair ties and broken crayons and everything else out of harms way, etc.

That Stinker Samantha

Two Weeks Ago:
It was one of those crazy days where Sam had a stinky diaper while Elliot was screaming to be nursed while Lily and Jacob were bickering and whining and......well, long story short, somehow I ended up on the couch nursing Elliot after putting on a movie for Lily and Jacob after changing Samantha. Only I didn't actually get to the "putting the diaper BACK ON" part. Because, you know, screaming baby.

So as I watched her happily run around the living room giggling, "Me naked! Me butt!" I thought, well, sure, I guess this is the start of potty training. Why not? As you can see, I'm not a big planner of things like this - it usually just happens whenever I feel like they're ready and I feel up for it. But I had actually been putting it off because, well, I wasn't up for it.

I'm kinda busy. And cleaning up pee from all over the floors was not high on my to-do list.

My potty training method is very well thought-out and scientific: Give 'em lots to drink, strip 'em down, show 'em the kiddy potty, and then let 'em run free. It's worked great the first two times.

 

(Catching up on some heavy reading...)

But after two days of more pee on the floor than in the potty with Sam - and no sign that she had any idea why her legs kept getting wet - I just thought, "Eh. Easy come, easy go." I know, I know, stopping again sends her a mixed message and blah blah blah. But hey, I didn't think she was ready and I still wasn't ready and I'd be much happier changing her diaper for another couple months if it meant less clean-up for me.

Tonight:
Me and Sam and Lily thought it would be fun to all hop in the big tub together after dinner while Ryan and Jacob worked on an elaborate train track in the basement. I supplied the chocolate Halloween candy while Lily supplied the goggles and we were good to go. As I lifted Sam into the tub, I repeated what I always tell her upon entering the water: NO PEE IN THE TUB. She always assures me she understands and usually complies. This coming from the kid who not even a year ago used to find great pleasure in going #2 every.single.time I took her in the shower with me.

About 10 minutes in, she held herself and shouted, "Go potty!" so Lily and I start yelling, "No! Stop! Not in the tub!" but she continues saying it and then I realize she didn't mean she WENT potty, she means she wants to GET ON the potty. So I hoist that slippery sucker out and stick her on and lo and behold.........she pees.

Um, what?

So turns out that little stinker knew what she was doing after all. After a 2nd frantic, "Go potty!" (and she did again!) and two more false alarms where she just foofed while sitting there, I realized that I gave in to her begging for her diaper back too easily. I guess we'll be going diaperless again tomorrow!

Shutterfly Photo Contest

So Shutterfly is having a photo contest, and for telling you about it, I am promised a free photo book with free shipping - sounds awesome! It's a win-win for everyone.

Just go here to enter:
http://bit.ly/sweepS

I just entered by submitting a pic of Sam having "Water Fun" (this week's theme) and for entering, received a promo code for some free prints (though I'm not sure if that includes free shipping).

Here's what Shutterfly has to say about its contest:

"Summer is here and that means you’ll be taking more photos of your family soon! Between beach trips and BBQs, photographs are a great way to capture these summer memories. Shutterfly’s Long Live Summer Photo Contest on Facebook launched on Monday July 9^th and it runs for 5 weeks.

Win a trip for four to The Bahamas and a professional photo shoot so you’ll remember your vacation forever. All you need to do is upload your favorite photo and caption based on the theme of the week. Get a gift from Shutterfly just for entering! You can enter at any point during the 5-week sweepstakes period.

PHOTO THEMES

• Week 1(7/9): Americana

• Week 2 (7/16): Great Outdoors

• Week 3 (7/23): Water Fun

• Week 4 (7/30): Sports & Activities

• Week 5 (8/6): Parties & Celebrations

PRIZES

• Instant win prizes just for submitting a photo! 
• Weekly prizes (contestants can enter one time/week) 
• Weekly featured photos: up to 5 weekly entries will be selected from the gallery and featured on the Facebook fan page. 
• Grand prize: trip for 4 to Bahamas, 4 nights, family photo shoot 
• Shutterfly Sweepstakes - Official Rules"

Samanatha's Birth Story - Two Years Later

Seeing as baby #4 is due in t-minus 2 1/2 weeks (hi, little buddy! Looking forward to meeting you soon!), what better time to document the birth of baby #3 just over two years ago? Yikes, I'm a little behind.

Three days past my due date, I woke up in the middle of the night wondering if perhaps my water had broken. I noticed some uncomfortable contractions and thought I guess I could be in labor, but mostly doubted it because after an awful back labor with baby #1, I have this habit of discounting anything that doesn't have me doubled over in pain for a day and a half. I slept off and on for the rest of the night.

In the morning, the contractions were a little stronger but still nothing to write home about - like Braxton Hicks getting a little more uncomfortable and perhaps a little closer together if I had actually stopped to notice. Before Ryan left for work, I mumbled something about how he should keep his phone close because this could be the day. But I was half asleep so I'm only half sure that's what I actually said.

After I got up and got the kids breakfast, I called my midwife, Tina, since I still wasn't sure my water had broken (it never had before). She wanted me to come to the office as soon as I could for a quick look-see, and I was all, "Um, yeah, how's THAT gonna happen?" as I looked at the two tiny faces seated beside me.

*Tangent. I'm having trouble picturing my skinny, tall, rambunctious 4-yr-old Jacob as this tiny, little speech-delayed CHUBBY 2-yr-old, sitting there at the table idolizing his big 3 1/2-yr-old sister...*

But Tina insisted - apparently when you're overdue and you think your water might have broken and your contractions are getting stronger, other people start to think you might actually be in labor, even if you don't yourself - so I called my neighbor to come stay with the kids for "just a little while" so I could go get checked out.

One pH test later and Tina informed me that no, my water had not broken (oops), but after an internal exam and one glance at my contractions (the "no, wait, stop talking for a second so I can concentrate through this" kind), she happily announced that I was 5cm dilated and indeed in labor.

Um, come again?

It's interesting being told you're halfway through something that you didn't even realize you'd started. Starting a labor in denial is DEFINITELY the way to go...

She told me she didn't want me driving myself home and having this baby on the side of the road - because apparently there's this pre-conceived notion that 3rd babies just FALL OUT (*cough cough LORI cough cough*) - and that I needed to walk myself across the street to the hospital and check myself in.

Um, come again? I'm just here for a check-up!

So even though my brain and my body are telling me it's too early, I take her advice and walk across the street. I call everyone I can think of on the way to tell them the exciting news. Ryan, to tell him to wrap it up and get home because apparently, the baby's coming? Maybe? Ryan's parents, Lori and Angela, because I knew they'd understand the excitement. Pam, because SOMEONE had to relieve my neighbor, who when she heard the term "possible labor," rushed over still in her pajamas for my "quick" doctor's visit. My parents, who would ultimately be staying with the kids while Ryan and I were at the hospital after the baby was born.

Long story short, I took my time getting there. I still wasn't really 100% sure I was in labor (see? DENIAL!), and this news had stalled any contractions and flooded me with adrenaline. When I finally got there, I walked myself through the front door and up to Labor & Delivery. I remember mumbling something to the guard outside the doors about, "My doctor told me to come because she thinks I'm in labor..." and he made the best surprised / you're crazy face ever. The nurses were so relieved to see me because they were convinced I must have had the baby on the walk over it took me so long. They immediately checked me into my [beautiful, huge, corner] room.

It didn't take long for Ryan to get there, and when he did, I sent him to the cafeteria to get us both lunch, because I was starving and there's nothing like a husband who just left work because something was supposed to be happening sitting around just waiting for something to happen. Tina arrived and I felt this sudden pressure to perform...all I could think about was all the appointments she'd have to cancel all day because of me and my supposed labor.

So Tina and I walked around. And around. And around. I gradually started believing her that I was in labor ("Hang on, let me lean against this wall for a second...."), and did a good job relaxing through the contractions as we walked. I wasn't crazy about being at the hospital so early in my labor - feeling this pressure to perform - and should have listened to my instincts to just drive myself home from Tina's office and come back when this thing was really in full swing, like with my last two labors. I knew my body by then and knew that MY babies don't just fall out on their own. They take a lot of work to get out - work that I wasn't near doing at 5cm in Tina's office.

But it was too late. Ryan and I ate our big lunch, and I happily smiled for the camera, sandwich in hand ("See, world? The joy of having a midwife and being allowed to EAT while in labor when you're hungry and about to run a marathon!").

The details start to get a little foggy after that...because, you know, I was a little busy giving birth. Contractions were really starting to get harder, but at one point, after a couple hours, Tina started feeling that my labor was not progressing as it should and she was worried that my [tired, used-up] uterus wasn't up for the performance. She at some point broke my water, and let me tell you YUCK I did not enjoy walking around LEAKING...so dighusting. But that didn't do the trick, as far as she was concerned, so she started me on Pitocin.

Greeeeeaaaaat. I was on Pit for the end of my (previously-mentioned, AWFUL, 31 1/2hr posterior) labor with Lily, so I wasn't as afraid of it as a regular first-time mom might have been, and I knew it would do its job of getting things moving, but I was really hoping to avoid interventions. She got the Pit going and some hard contractions really started coming. Yay...it's working...

Transition hit soon after. Sweating, cold (or was it hot?), talking about how I could go no farther, and Ryan please turn OFF that camera because who wants to remember THIS?! After one particularly BAD contraction, where I remember laying on my side and moaning, I opened my eyes and saw all this STUFF set out on a table at the foot of my bed. "How did all that get there? And WHEN?"

Tina laughed and asked me, hadn't I noticed I was making a bearing-down noise during that last contraction? I thought about it. Oh yes, I suppose it HAD felt better to bear down through that.

I guess she was ready to catch a baby!

She checked me internally again and pronounced me 10cm with a little lip but nothing I couldn't push through. So the next contraction came and naturally everyone expected me to start pushing.

I had other ideas.

For some reason, I had NO urge to push. Or maybe I had the urge but I would rather fight it because I was being lazy and wasn't this baby just supposed to fall out by itself? I seemed to remember hearing that just a few hours before...

We went through a few contractions like that. It could have been 5 or 20, I have no idea. Maybe one day we'll go back and watch the video, but two years later and we've still NEVER SEEN IT. Somehow it just seems too...real? So I vividly remember people telling me to PUUUUSH and me yelling back NOOOOO I don't WAAAANT to push, stop saying PUUUUUSH!!! And Tina made a back-handed comment like, "Well, I guess we'll just wait here because she must not be ready for this baby to come out yet," or something like that.

And she totally knew how to handle me because when a passive-aggressive person is faced with a passive-aggressive comment like that, they're all OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!! and suddenly I had the urge to push. Who knew?

The whole stage 2 of this labor took an hour start to finish, just as Jacob's had, so it's not like one push and out came this gigantic baby. It was still a lot of hard work. A lot of typical 2 steps forward, 1 step back. Finally, the head was in position and when I can reach down and FEEL it, I am HUGELY motivated (but no stop asking if I'd like a mirror put down there to help motivate me because that just grosses me out and feeling what's happening is motivation enough for me!).

I remember at one point Ryan announcing that the baby's hair looked red, and I totally didn't believe him. But even comments like that are HUGELY motivating because I really wanted to see for myself so I could point out how he was wrong ;)

Have I ever mentioned that it's not easy pushing out a 10lb baby? With a head in the 80th percentile for 10lbs? So yes, now we know for certain. My babies do not just fall out. If anyone ever suggests that again, I am going to laugh so hard the baby might just fall out. Or not.

I know lots of women fear the "ring of fire," but I remember being SO HAPPY to be that far along - knowing that with just a couple more pushes, this baby would be out and in my arms and the whole labor would be over. (We all know that pesky stage 3 doesn't really count.) So with just a few more pushes, our beautiful CHUBBY little girl came sliding out.

They put this big baby (toddler?) on my belly and the smell and feel of my previous babies came flooding back to me. I don't think that's something you ever really forget - the SMELL of a newborn who just came out of you, so fresh she's still attached to you, wriggling and whimpering, and squinting and not at all sure what just happened.

Immediately, everyone started guessing her weight, just like they had with Jacob. I wanted to nurse her and keep her with me for a good while before they whisked her away to be cleaned and weighed and checked, but my curiosity got the best of me, and I really wanted to know how big she was, too. I don't think anyone could quite believe she was 10lb 1oz. I wonder how big she would have been had I nursed first??

I tore the same as the previous two times, and Tina gave me a local and stitched me up after delivering the placenta. I remember the nurses telling me that I had to go to the bathroom before I could leave the room, so I sat up and swung my legs over the bed, and they just about fell over because my hospital has a 90% epidural rate (insanity!) and what in the world is that mother doing with control of her own legs???

After getting me set up in my mother-baby postpartum room, Tina had me still hooked up to the Pitocin, which was really irritating because it was still giving me uncomfortable contractions at a time when I was feeling like I deserved to be done having them. She was worried that my uterus my not go back down in size properly post-delivery, since it hadn't been contracting "properly" previous to the delivery.

Ryan's family were Samantha's first visitors, but I remember it taking a really long time for the nurses to actually bring her into the room. Visiting hours were ending, and they still hadn't seen their new grand-daughter. After several promptings from polite Ryan, they finally brought her in and our newest little bundle was passed around amongst the family.

The next day, my parents came with the kids so they could meet their new little sister. Lily was somewhat interested and spent a good amount of time petting her on her soft little head. Jacob had NO desire to be there and it was difficult getting any pictures of him with the baby. Lily was eventually distracted by potato chips on my food tray and noises in the hallway, so we all went for a little walk to the waiting area and the kids got to see their new sister at their own pace.

I guess two years later, I still remember a lot of the details. Here's hoping that now that it's all written down and out of my head, I've made room for a whole new set of memories with baby #4! You hear that, baby? We're ready for you! Whenever you'd like to arrive is fine with me =)


TRACKBACK:
Lily Ann (December 19, 2006)
Jacob Ryan (May 18, 2008)

On Samantha's 2nd Birthday

May 10, 2012

Dear Samantha,
Today, you turned two years old. One hour ago, to be exact. I still can't believe I pushed out all 10+ pounds of you over two years ago and here you are today, a beautiful, happy, silly, wonderful little girl. I know that if I don't write you this letter right now, before anything changes, I will seriously regret it. Because oh my goodness. I could keep you like this forever. 

You are incredible. Every day, you are a joy to be around. I know you are supposedly entering the "terrible twos" but in this house, we laugh and know how much worse the terrible threes are, so we are going to enjoy every single second of you RIGHT NOW that we possibly can.  

You are super funny. You thrive on making other people laugh - your Mama and Daddy, Lily, "Buh-buh" (Jacob), or any random person you pass in your day. It's like you've established your role as #3 is the clown. That is how you have decided you will make your mark and get attention - by making other people happy. How on earth did we end up with all this wonderful silliness? What a bright spot to my day every day.  

You are super smart. I remember feeling this way when Lily was little, that she "never missed a trick." Even if you can't communicate everything that you're thinking or that's going on, you certainly understand and will put in your $.02 in your own way. A word here, a gesture or "eh...eh" with a pointer finger over there. Nothing gets past you, even when we try =) I'd say you're too smart for your own good, but it IS for your own good and I love it.  

You are super charming and social. You know how to work a crowd, just like Jacob at your age. You look people in the eye and charm them. Strangers. Ladies in the grocery store. Anyone you meet. You will have a conversation with them, sometimes without saying a word. Just with facial expressions and glances and gestures. You love to point me out to people and proudly exclaim, "Mama!" just to make sure everyone knows. If anyone asks your name, you tell them, "Mine!" which is fine by me. If I had two rowdy older siblings, I'd be staking my claim as much as possible, too.  

You are polite. I never thought this would be an attribute I'd call out for someone your age, but it's always surprising to me. When you ask for something, you say, "Please." When someone is in your way, you say, "Scuse me!" When Lily and Jacob help you get something, you say, "Dank do." I'm not quite sure where you came from but I'd like you to hurry up spreading your politeness to the other two ;)


TWO MONTHS LATER...
July 14, 2012

OK, so I never actually finished your letter. Add it to the ever-present and escalating mommy-guilt... That also means Jacob never even got a 4th birthday letter (don't even get me STARTED on how I feel about that), so I figured I'd better finish this and publish it before it stays in DRAFT status here in blog-land forever.

A couple things have changed in the last couple of months. Your place in the household has expanded. You are now not just the "class clown" - you are also LOUDEST. You enjoy making sure everyone knows your every thought. It's hysterical, and completely random. One minute, you're sitting there quietly doing something (like puzzles...you could do puzzles ALL DAY LONG. Or coloring.), the next minute, you are TALKING AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE for someone to come PLAY! with YOU! do PUZZLE! SIT! PLAAAAAAY! I guess you've learned that Mama cannot be in three places at once, and this is how you compensate...

Your favorite word at your second birthday was MINE. Then you went through a NO phase, which was actually quite humorous, but we were happy to see the new favorite word quickly become YEAH! I don't think we've ever had a kid use the word YEAH as early or extensively as you, but it's hysterical. Especially with your trademark, "Uhhhh..." in front of it. Like you have to think really hard before you answer. "Samantha, do you want to go play outside?" - You: "Uhhhhh YEAH!" Oh my goodness, you are the cutest thing ever.

Your whole vocabulary is awesome. You know and say soooo many words, it's always surprising to me. Especially since you follow behind two former delayed speakers, so we didn't really have high expectations. And you have no trouble communicating all those words. LOUDLY. Repeatedly.

You have also become more TWO. Yes I know I said it's nothing compared to bring THREE and I still stand by that, but don't grow up too fast, kiddo. I'm glad you're still sweet and silly and I can take the infrequent lay-on-the-floor-screaming tantrums because, really? That's all you got? No telling me how mean I am and whining about how you're not gonna listen EVER AGAIN? Because that is way worse. The floor screaming is just funny and cute in comparison. Like, "Oh look, she's trying..."

You still love your sister more than anything, and she has quite seriously developed her role as your 2nd mommy. She helps you with anything and everything you could want - so willingly and graciously. Just happy to be needed. She talks to you like you're still so little, and looooves when you need her help. You will let her do most anything with you, because you totally trust her, and she has earned that trust.

And in the last year, we've seen your brother change from someone you couldn't quite peg (because honestly he didn't really notice you existed, and when he did, he wasn't always super gentle) to your little partner in crime. Oh the giggling that goes on between the two of you when I'm not looking! Every night, you beg to sleep in "Bubba's bed! Bubba's BEEEEED!" and lay down beside him on his pillow as if the visual will help convince us. I'm so glad you two have developed this silly, sweet, goofy relationship - where he asks if you want to be involved, if it's ok to dump water all over your head (of course, Jacob! anything you want, Jacob!) - let the hysterical laughter commence - and I look forward to seeing how it grows.

And between you and me, I'm not sure I've seen any of the other kids have daddy so thoroughly wrapped around their little finger. I think it's safe to say it's a combination of your easy-going personality (who wouldn't want to spend time dawdling behind everyone else with you?) and his getting softer with each baby. ;) He puts you to bed every.single.night. No joke. I think it started with his helping me out physically as this pregnancy progressed, and has morphed into one of the highlights of his day - just Daddy and Sam, quiet and whispering and giggling in your room, tuning out the chaotic shrieking preschoolers just outside the door, who may or may not interpret, "Put on your pajamas," as, "Run around naked with your shirts on your heads."

Again.

All this to say, we love you so much, Sam I Am. We are so incredibly blessed that God gave us YOU as our number three - we couldn't imagine this family without you keeping us all entertained!

Mama

PS I may add pictures to this. Someday. For now, I'm just happy you got a letter!

It's About That Time Again

It's been far too long since we've made a good announcement here, so how about we let Samantha have a go at it...?



Introducing the new H4, scheduled to roll off the line August, 2012. Comes fully equipped with all the bells and whistles. ;)

More Sillies

Silly Sam

"Sam I Am" Finds Her Legs!

Today she finally did it - Samantha walked across the living room! TWICE! As if she'd been doing it for months while we weren't looking. "What, Mom? This is nothing new." Just last Thursday, I'd seen her take two little steps - one with each foot - so she could grab on to something just beyond her reach. They were her first official non-FALLING steps - actual "I am choosing to propel myself forward" steps.

But today was incredible! A cute little boy named Levi came over with his Mama for a short visit, and he was racing around with her shopping cart, and guess what? She all of a sudden decided to follow after him! WITHOUT HOLDING ON TO ANYTHING. It was incredible. I think I literally shrieked for joy (sorry, Levi's Mama). Might be the first time someone shrieked louder than Sam, the ultimate shrieker.

8 days ago, when she officially turned 17 months and was not yet walking, I told her congratulations, she had done it. She had officially BEATEN Jacob in the race for "Who Can Take the Longest to Start Walking." He took his first steps at 16 months, and started really walking at 17 months. But if she takes off soon, I might call it a tie. GOOD JOB, SAM! (FYI, Lily started walking at 12 months.)

Tonight, she walked like 5 steps between me and our Small Group babysitter Casey maybe four or five times, Ryan catching the action on her last cruise across the carpet. So glad he got to see it, too! I am so stinkin' proud of my chubby, funny cutie pie - you'd think I haven't witnessed this twice before. Yes, all you skeptical new Mamas with just one kid: it is JUST AS EXCITING the 3rd time around.

Hope to catch it on video soon!

PS So I don't forget: Sam made her first attempt at crawling 8 months ago, and has really been crawling consistently/properly for the last 7 months (starting when she was 11 months old). She started cruising around 5 or 6 months ago (when she was 12 or 13 months old).

Sam's "15mo" Stats (at 16mos)

We were a little behind getting Sam to her 15mo pediatrician appointment. She didn't go until the 20th of this month, when she was about 16 1/2mos - oops =) In hindsight, I'm glad we had the extra time. For one, she's THIS CLOSE to walking!



Words:

• Na-na (banana - her favorite thing EVER)
  
• Mama
• Dadda
• Mmm-ma (Oma)
• Opa
• Bar-bra (our neighbor)
• La-la (Lily)
• Ba-ba (Jacob)
• Buh! Buh! (up! up!)
• More
• Duh (down, done)
• Boo (book)
• Bah (ball)
• Esh (yes, with lots of head nodding)
• Shhh (shoes)
• Ch (cheese)
• Beh-beh (baby)

She says most of these words without prodding - for instance, if she just SEES a ball, or a baby, or my neighbor Barbara's house. She is constantly asking to get, "Buh! Buh! Buh!" (up). Compared to the other two at this age, it feels like she's talking up a storm. She is doing a great job imitating our words and sounds, something the other two late talkers had a lot of trouble doing at this point. It feels like every day, she's finding new ways to express herself verbally, whether or not what she's actually saying sounds anything like what she means ;) I'm so glad she's trying and progressing!

Does Regularly:

• Looks straight at you and shakes her head "no" after doing something she's not supposed to - predicting our response! Strong-willed little troublemaker (RED HEAD). It's getting more obvious (with her temper, strong focus, etc.) which child she will be more like.
  
  
  
  (complaining)
  
  
• Nods head "yes" vigorously (with eyebrows raised high - SO CUTE)
  
• SHRIEKS (I could do with less shrieking. Yes, 3rd child, we hear you.)
• Cruises (She's gotten so good, she can walk along next to you holding just one of your fingers.)
• Stands alone (She can stand straight up in the middle of the room without anything to hold, and then just stands there for like 10 seconds - she is very proud of herself when she does this one!)
• Waves her pointer finger in a circle when the microwave is going or she spots a ceiling fan
• LOVES making faces at people / imitating faces
  

Understands:

• head/hair
• belly
• feet
• shoes
• mouth
• tongue
• kick/splash!
• stand up
• sit down
• walk
• lay down
  
• arms up
• so big!
• light
• fan
• tray
  

(and a million other things I didn't write down)



(sand does not taste so good)

Samantha is still hysterical. She is one of the funniest little babies ever. She flirts with people. She loves to make faces and imitate expressions/noises (this one keeps her busy with willing strangers in the grocery store)(and the flirting). If I would carry her around on my hip all day, she would be the happiest baby in the world ("Mama! Mama! Buh! Buh!"). She's very social like her brother was, and loves her Mama like no other - though those little arms fly out BEGGING for Opa to pick her up (accompanied with, "Eh! Eh! Eh!") the minute she sees my dad!




She's super smart and purposely PICKS on me - TEASES me. She has great fine motor skills - always trying to take things apart or carefully put them together. She can stack markers together - you know, how the lid from one snaps into the bottom of another. She doesn't quite have Lily's incredible concentration and perseverance, but she certainly doesn't just give up like the other guy! There is much shrieking (did I mention the shrieking?) involved if she can't accomplish her task or if she needs help - Jacob still just walks away and looks for something else to do. "Oh, well. Lalalala...SQUIRREL!" When you stop the car and walk over to her seat, she puts her hands on her buckles and makes noises like she's trying to get them open - or like she's telling us that's what comes next. Today, she strapped her booster seat shut all by herself - just kept working on it, furrowing her brow, until she got it. She may be on the later end of walking, as was Jacob, but that little brain of hers is rushing on ahead!



16mo stats:
24lb 15oz (ALMOST 25lb) - 71st %
31" tall - 51st %
47cm head circumference - 72nd %

Vaccines:
Hep A & Prevnar
*(no desire to get into the vaccine debate - we are somewhere in the middle ourselves - just posting this for my own reference!)*

Compare with Jacob's 15mo stats
The comprehensive stat tracker

Uh...Hello?

PS And speaking of kids on cell phones, I still say this is the BEST VIDEO EVER.

Some Missing Jacob Stats

So I just found another little piece of paper floating around with Jacob's 15-mo stats:

22lb 11oz (24th%)
31" (50th%)

Also, these notes:
- Not walking
- Not talking
- Needs Thal Minor re-test*
- Look at eczema

Words:
- Mama
- Oma
- truck
- Lily
- Daddy
- banana

Signs:
- no
- yes
- all done
- drink
- more
- up
- beep beep beep
- light
- he also claps and does "SO BIG!"

Understands:
- stand up
- sit down
- lay down
- walk
- tray
- bib
- light/fan

It's nice to have these to look at as Samantha approaches this milestone. She's 13 1/2 mo now and doing/understanding most of these - not to mention that she's already surpassed his weight. Chubbers.

Hooray for another little piece of paper getting thrown out!

*The Thalassemia Minor misdiagnosis story will have to wait for another time...