Arynn @ 2 Weeks

Arynn Lizabeth, you are 2 weeks old!

Arynn and proud sister Addy

You went with Momma for her 1 week check-up to see Dr. S, he checked my platelets which had doubled since delivery. They were 132 and I was released from the hematologist. Thank God for answered prayers!

 

I took you back for a weight check on Wednesday, hoping I could skip Friday's weigh in. But you still weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces. You attended your first Wednesday night church service, which we spent in the nursery because you decided to eat every hour that night!

 

We stayed in our PJ's all day on Thursday!

On Friday, you got to meet the Witchers! Mrs. Stacy brought us lunch (beef and broccoli, my new favorite crock-pot dish) and I sat in the recliner and rocked you all day. Mrs. Stacy didn't let me lift a finger and prepared the food for all the kids. She also brought cookies and muffins for the next day which were quickly devoured! I was so lazy during their visit I didn't even get out the camera! So to see the photographic evidence of their visit click here.

After the Witcher's visit, Gary, Ann, Emily, and Lane came over to see you. It was Emily and Lane's first visit with you and you were on your best behavior.

Aiden, Lane, Emily holding Arynn and Ava

On Saturday we stayed home and Daddy shopped for vans. More on that in a later post.

 

Sunday we went to church and once again I missed most of it because you really wanted to eat non-stop during the day.

 

Monday I took you back in for a weight check to find out the non-stop feeds were really accomplishing something. You had gained 5 ounces in 5 days. You weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces which is only 3 ounces shy of your birth weight. Dr. Mark said you didn't have to come back until 2 months. So now if you want to sleep a longer stretch a night, I will not bother you!

 

You have changed so much and the days are flying by, I wish I could hit the pause button because I know I will blink and you will be just as big as your siblings. I have tried to hold you and just enjoy every moment this week, so much so that I only have two pictures! I hope I can make up for it next week. We love you and are so blessed to be your parents!

 

Arynn's Birth Story

On February 26th around 4:30 am, I woke up with light contractions. We were 40 weeks and 6 days. Around 5:30, I woke Jake and told him today might be the day. I still wasn't convinced because contractions were 8 minutes apart, and nothing like the fast and furious labor we experienced with Addy. Jake went ahead and called into work to tell them he wasn't going to be there and then he called Nana. She arrived around 6:15 and we got to the hospital by 7:15. Jake wanted to make sure we could beat rush hour traffic. We were a little gun shy after our experience with Addy.

9 pounds 7 ounces
21 inches long

Once we got to the hospital we found out we were going to have a baby soon. I was dilated to 5 and contractions were coming regular but still around 8 minutes apart and very manageable.  Our OB was not on call, but Dr B was very nice and reassuring. He made sure the staff was on top of my platelet issue and to our surprise they had came up since the previous week. He offered to break my water around 8:00 to help speed things up, but I declined. I was okay with a slow labor this time.  

Meeting family for the first time.
 

Sometime later Dr B came back and offered to break my water, Jake and I still weren't ready to have any interventions so he left and then came back to tell us my Dr was going to check on us around lunch time. Dr. S came in around noon we were dilated to 9 almost 10 and he offered again to break my water, I still didn't want to just because I remembered how much more intense the labor was after that happened with Addy. I really wanted to just let things happen naturally. He told us he would eat lunch and come back in 30 minutes. 



Nanny Lee holding her 5th great-grandchild. Arynn is named after her mother, Mary Lizabeth, who would have been 113 years old on March 4th.

At 12:40 Dr. S came back, this time I was complete, but no urge to push. Arynn was still -3 station and posterior. He said if I would let him break my water she could rotate and come down like she was supposed to. I wasn't convinced but Jake knew if we sent him away again he might not make it back in time. So we agreed.



Mimi holding her 5th grandbaby.

Everything happened just like he said, I guess 50 years of delivering babies counts for something. : ) Arynn was born at 1:00 pm, no complications for either of us and Dr. S didn't even have to reschedule his afternoon patients!

Nana checking out her 3rd granddaughter's chubby cheeks.

Arynn made her appearance during the day so we had visitors come and welcome her. We actually were able to take pictures! (This didn't happen with Addy because she came in the wee hours of the morning and then went to the NICU) Bro. Ben came and stayed for a while but had to leave before he got to see her, so we don't have any pictures of him. 

Gary and Ann meeting baby Arynn.

We were so blessed with a wonderful labor and delievery. God knew the exact timing that was needed. We are thankful for all of the prayers about mine and Arynn's health. Not only did God answer those prayers but He blessed us even more with an easy labor, delivery and a speedy recovery. This has been the best postpartum experience compared to all of our other babies!

First photo as a family of seven!

We have been completely overwhelmed by the kindness and love shown to us with our 5th baby. We jokingly said it has been more like a first baby! We have had many meals prepared, gifts for Arynn and myself, prayers on our behalf, calls and visitors. We feel loved and blessed to have so many friends and family showing their love. We are thankful to everyone and love each of you! We are happy to have a new blessing in our lives! Welcome Baby Arynn, we love you!!!

Emily's Graduation

Ms. Emily is very special to us. She is the granddaughter of some dear friends of ours. We have known her for a while, but for almost a year now she has been an important part of our lives. She is very sweet, kind and wonderful with our kids. She babysits for us occasionally, and without her help we would never have been able to attend our Bradley classes. The kids are in love with her and I consider her to be a dear friend. Here are some pics from her graduation and party.

Class of 2011
Addy was really fussy and I was not able to get many pics at the ceremony. Addy was wanting to fall asleep and every time she would close her eyes, they would announce another name and she would startle and wake up. I felt so sorry for her, but it was actually pretty comical because it happened 70+ times and she never got used to it!

 The kids helping Ms. Emily open her gifts.
(Aiden did attend the party, he was just too busy playing ping pong to have his picture made.)

Her graduation was definitely an experience we will never forget! Jake had to work, so I took the kiddos by myself. It had been a stressful day, but we were not going to miss it. We arrived early  because I was unsure of where we were going. It had been raining off and on, and we had to park a pretty good distance away. Thankfully, Gary and Ann pulled in the parking lot not too long before us and helped us make the  long walk.

 Ava and Ms. Emily

We walked up tons of stairs, into the fieldhouse and found a good seat! We are never early so this was a plus for us! Right before the ceremony started, they announced a tornado was headed for us. We had to evacuate to their storm shelter, which was back down the stairs and a little way from the fieldhouse.

 I'm pretty sure Austen was asking for more fruit salad!

Once we finally made it in the storm shelter, it was extremely hot. Too many people + too little space = lots of heat! The storm actually died out before it reached us, and we were all herded back up the stairs to the fieldhouse. However, our good seat was gone! I told Gary and Ann that is exactly why I don't kill myself trying to be somewhere on time! Just kidding, I really do kill myself trying to get there, it just never happens! 

Ann and Addy, so thankful she was able to carry Ava that night with all of the walking, otherwise we would have gave up and went home.

Anyway, the ceremony turned out fine and we got to relax at her party. The kids had a really good time and we all ate way too much. The only thing missing was Daddy. We love you and our proud of you Ms. Emily!