Christopher Liam

On November 15 2012

we welcomed a new member to the family 

Mr. Christopher Liam

A sweet boy.

My contractions began at about 34 weeks.

I was excited that perhaps he would be joining early.

At my 35 week checkup I was 1 & 75%

36 = 2 & 80%

37= 2.5 & 90%

for 4 weeks I did not progress

Contractions were strong but nothing.

Just like with Eliana.

I went to the hospital 

(which is a 15 min drive if taking the freeway)

4 times because we were sure my water was broken.

They tested but bc the test were neutral they said it prob wasn't.

Come on ladies I was leaking to the point I needed a pad.

Not normal.

The 4th time I let them know I was going to stay for more than an hour.

After 3 hours of no progress I was sent home.

Lame. 

1 hour later at 12 am

I was laying in bed when a leakage woke me up.

I felt a lot of pressure and I needed to pee.

I went to the restroom and sure enough my water was definitely broken.

Small leaks but w meconium. 

We called the midwife and there we go again to the hospital.

Was I in pain?

Contractions were strong and good

but no strong pain.

Never really hit pain pain.

But I am good at dealing with pain.

When I was checked I was at 5 & 95%

After that every hour I progressed one.

at 1am=6 2=7 3=8 once I hit 8 I 

got the "walking epidural"

I was able to move my legs and feel some "pain"

(I mainly had it bc of the c-section. Dr said I was to have it in case of another emergency c-section.)

because of that I was at 8 for two hours.

so I was given a little pitosin.

At a little before 6 am I was checked and I was fully dilated and ready to push.

I pushed exactly one hour and at

7:08 am of November 15 2012

Christopher Liam 

was born.

A 7 lb 10 oz baby boy.

One week later but he was finally here.

Of course the last 5 min was the worst pain I ever felt.

The epidural had finished and I had forgotten to press the button.

By the time I realized it was too late to press it.

He was born with a fever and I had a fever.

So after cleaning I was able to kiss him and he was off to 2nd level nursery. (NICU)

He stayed there longer than Eliana was in the NICU.

Eliana got 12 hours 

Liam 48 hours.

I was just glad we were able to take him home.

It's so nice to be a family of four.

When walking fails

When walking fails what do you do?

Cut your hair.

For the past week we have been going to the mall 

Just about every day.

Just to walk.

But...nothing.

I do get pains and have to stop to breathe but I always get sent home from the hospital.

I WAS in need of a haircut though.

It was so relaxing.

I love when my hair is brushed and cut.

I use to let my cousins style it just for fun, for them. Relaxing for me.

So today I got a haircut.

I loved it.

After cutting my hair and my mom getting hers done as well, we walked some more.

Some lady stopped 

Asked when I was do 

look at me wanting to pop

and to not go in labor in front of her.

Yes, because I can hold him in right?

She was trying to sell something that I had already bought in the past and didn't use.

How do I get out of it?

Oh wait here it comes.

Pain.

A good one.

Couldn't walk.

She freaked.

Saved.

Thank you baby.
We also had snow.
So pretty.
 

October '12 Report

Almost there!!

To the end of the pregnancy that is.

This month has just been full of restless nights

swollen hands and feet

bloody nose

tiredness

back aches

You know all the great stuff that comes with pregnancy.

For those of you who do not know...

The reason we went to Texas for the summer is 

because Casey applied to Dental schools in Texas.

In August we were suppose to hear from the school but didn't.

Casey made phone calls and finally the beginning of the month 

he scheduled his interviews.

On the 13th we departed to Texas.

I was called crazy for flying at 8.5 months 

And I was called crazy because they thought I drove.

Either was I was crazy.

No matter.

Casey didn't want to leave us at home while he traveled in Texas.

And well I wanted to be with family.

Monday morning Casey had interview with San Antonio.

Sunday night he left for Houston with Austin & Kenneth.

From there he drove to San Antonio.

Friday he had an Interview with Baylor in Dallas.

So after the Interview he drove back to Houston.

Stayed that night.

Took a bus the next morning to Dallas.

My dad and I picked him up

Wednesday my dad took us to visit little miss Kadynn

who was born  the day before.

She is so cute and has dark hair.

They were able to see Eliana as well.

She enjoyed being around Madison who was kind enough to share Angry Birds cheez itz with her.

Friday morning Casey left for his interview.

Meanwhile Eliana, my mom, and I went shopping for Eliana's bday party.

 Casey just came in time to pick us up and head to the park.

We had a blast.

Before the party we had some family pictures taken as well as pictures of Eliana.

She enjoyed it all.

The food, the cake, the pinata, even the dancing.

Little miss Teagan was dancing as well.

At the end of it all we headed to my parents house.

We were a little sad some of the family missed it
but we hope the ones who were able to make it enjoyed it.

It was short but fun trip.

We left for home, back to Utah, Saturday.

On the 23rd Eliana had her 1 year check up.

Shots again.

Hurts me to see her in pain.

Eliana stopped drinking formula before we left Utah.

I called the Dr office before because she was ready to drink milk.

She weighed 18 lbs and 14 oz.

Height 28.5 in

She speaks a lot says about 10 words already.

She's got a great appetite and loves to eat.

He walks, she talks, she sings, she dances.

What more can she do?

I am just excited to find out what she is going to enjoy.

Ballet? Sports? Gymnastics? Music?

Maybe all.

We'll see for now she is just one wonderful child.

After my Dr. Appointment on the 29th we headed to a pumpkin patch.

It didn't quite go as I thought it would.

Eliana was a little too scared of pumpkins.

Maybe it was their size.

She did walk around and saw some animals.

But that was about it.

Maybe next year.

The next day we picked my mom up from the airport.

Oh how I miss her.

Our relationship was never great until I was married.

By then it was too late.

I no longer have her with me.

I do love to talk with her.

She's is a very busy woman but she calls when she can.

But for now I'm going to enjoy her while she is here.

On halloween we took Eliana to a block with about 12 houses.

It was a gated street so there weren't really cars.

This is the same street we took Christopher (my youngest brother) to trick or treat

When Casey and I were dating.

Eliana had a blast.

The first house had music.

When Eliana stepped on the patio the "Ghost Busters" theme song came on.

The owners were laughing because she stopped to start dancing.

It is a pretty rad song.

After that Eliana to walk the entire time, but it was too long. 

Every now and then we'd let her.

By the end she was tired and we were ready to eat her candy.

It was a wonderful month.

September '12

I feel that days have become slower, lazier, and longer.

It's all downhill from now.

With this pregnancy I feel much heavier, slower, lazier.

Going out just isn't my thing but I wanted to get some pictures.

We can't afford a professional just yet but my cousin-in-law (?)

Volunteered to take pictures for us.

They came out really pretty.

We went to several locations different days.

But that was as much as I could take.

The weather was quite warm at times.

But here are some pics.

During this month I also went on a sewing frenzy.

Guilty.

I can't help it.

I love it.

Self-taught.

I have had many projects just to get practice.

I made myself a diaper bag, car seat cover for a boy to cover the girly stuff.

I also made myself a skirt and a cardigan.

As well as other things but the reason I wanted to learn was to make Eliana some dresses. (I'll come back to add the pictures when she wears them.)

I made her a pink shirt

Dress out of my skirt 

 

Blue cardigan and yellow dress

And her snow white costume to wear for halloween.

I had so much fun

And I am happy to know that she will be wearing them for her birthday.

I look forward to making more.

And if someone was wondering.

I made my own pattern.

I used the same one for every dress I made.

I just used one of her dresses to make my own pattern.

 

Do your research!!

So with this pregnancy we have the same Doctor.
Correction...
HAD!!
Why?
When I had the C-section with Eliana
we thought it was because I really needed it.
We found it I didn't .
On August 13. We had our last visit with Dr. Gourley.
The visit was horrible.
We are wanting to try having a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section)
So we asked Dr. Gourley if we could have a trial.
It was as if we had pushed the wrong button.
He didn't make sense.
He couldn't explain to us what exactly went wrong.
In the end he said "You can't have a vbac. You are too small. But if you think that I don't know anything even though I am the doctor than that's fine."
We just said "Ok well thank you for letting us know if we had the option or not."
We left the office and only went back to pick up our records.

I was 27 weeks pregnant and no doctor.
We did our research and found an office in American Fork.
Before we asked for our records we met a midwife at the American Fork office.
We  loved her! We loved the office, the people, the environment.
We went home afterwards and prayed hard.
We had the feeling that we were making the right choice.

On September 5 we registered and on the 6th we met Dr. E William Parker.
He went over the whole "uterine rupture" and asked if we wanted him or the midwives.
We discussed the differences and what would work better for me.
Casey and I went home and we talked about it and prayed.
We switched to midwives.
At this point in the pregnancy they explained that I needed to come in every week in order to meet every midwife.
So that is the plan.

We have such a great feeling and we can't wait to get this baby here safe and sound!

Eliana's Second Steps

For the longest time Eliana has been standing on her own.

Probably since about 4 months.

She stands while holding onto things.

We've been looking forward to the day she'd take her first steps.

She began walking while holding onto things since about 5.5 months.

She began army crawling at about 5 months but was better by 6 months.

She's a fast one.

Then she decided to crawl on all fours at the baby shower while I opened gifts. (8.5 months)

Everyone was more excited about that. Even I was!

That same day she finally stood up and let go of the furniture and stood on her own.

Since we got back from Texas, Eliana walks everyday but she has to hold on to one finger.

Why?

No idea. 

She just does.

One finger.

She even walks just by brushing the walls with her hands.

But she will not walk on her own. 

I knew it wasn't  going to take long before she started walking on her own.

Then today.

It happened.

Casey was studying at the table, back turned to us.

I told Casey I was taking a nap on the couch.

I closed my eyes.

Seconds later....

I opened them and caught Eliana walking towards me by herself!!

No wall

No couch

No finger.

Just air.

I yelled "Casey she just walked by herself!!!"

We took the camera out and told her to walk again.

So here it is! Eliana's second steps. (Click Here)

Brigham Temple

Casey has been wanting to visit his mission field area for quite some time.

The last time we went was when we were engaged.

It has been almost two years now.

I am 6.5 months pregnant with a 10 month old.

And even though this pregnancy has not been the best,

You know all the nausea, lost appetite, and all that great stuff,

I still wanted to drive about 2 hours to visit the area.

Plus, we NEEDED to go to the Brigham Temple Open House.

Last Saturday the 18th

We picked up a friend of Casey's (Colby)

who wanted to join us.

From there we went to a parking lot near the temple 

where buses picked people up to take to the temple.

Eliana enjoyed that ride.

The Temple was beautiful.

But what Temple isn't ?

Eliana has never been that reverent.

The spirit was so peaceful and sweet.

Now we can say we have been in at least 5 Temples in Utah.

There were so many people.

Members and non members.

After the Temple trip we dropped Colby off, ate, and headed home.

This past Saturday the 25th we headed once again to Brigham/Ogden.

We were able to meet people he served around.

I could see the great love that they have for Casey.

Not only could I see but they let us know.

Eric was baptized while Casey served and as he told me the story he began to get emotional.

It was nice to meet someone that joined the church and see how they change.

His wife gave me a handkerchief that they got in Relief Society with the Brigham Temple on it.

Quite lovely.

That night we stayed at Casey's cousins house where his Aunt & Uncle Woody live also.

They enjoyed little miss Eliana.

Surprised at how quick of a crawler she is.

The next morning we attended church at their ward and headed home afterwards.

These were trips that we were excited to make and really enjoyed them.

The Lord has blessed us with such great love from people that I just met but love because of who Casey is.

I was very blessed to have met and married Casey.

I am glad that he has taken me to meet the area he served and the people there.