Harrison Randall

Well, Thursday  morning at about 430 I got woken up by a few contractions. I went back to bed and eventually got up around 6 or so. The contractions continued through the morning mildly, which was happening every once in awhile. They always went away as I was up for awhile or if I got on the treadmill. We sat around for awhile and I decided to go down and walk on the treadmill.  I figured they would go away.  They didn't, but they also weren't an issue, so I didn't say anything and went about my business.  We headed over for Thanksgiving lunch at around noon to David and Lanas. I was still having contractions that were somewhat painful at times, but not bad. Around 330 I was having trouble hiding it, so I decided to come home and maybe try and lay down. When I got here I realized that wasn't going to happen, so I watched some TV.  Around 530 I called Dr Morris to see what she wanted me to do. It was really hurting quite a lot but they were still about 10 minutes apart.   I wasn't sure if she would rather I go in early or in the middle of the night. She told me to stay home and walk instead of walking the halls at the hospital, so back down to the treadmill I went.  I walked for another 2.5 miles. I was SO. TIRED. I decided I had to try and lay down, that lasted 2 contractions and there was no way I could do that.  By this time it was about 9 or so and it was kicking my butt. I called Brooks and told him we probably needed to just go cause I couldn't handle it anymore.  I called Dr. Morris and she said it was fine. They were about every 6 minutes now.  

 We got to the hospital at a little after 10. Got checked in and all. I was shivering uncontrollably and not dealing all that well with the pain at this point.  I knew I wasn't close to delivery, but I was done.  They got my IV and gave me some fluid.  Right when we got there H dropped his heart rate dramatically and they had me on all 4's with oxygen. I was crazy freaked out for the rest of the delivery. He recovered and we never had another issue.

 I got my epidural at around 1130 I think and after I was relaxed Dr M broke my water and I started dilating at about a cm every 15 minutes. He was born at 219 am! I can't believe it was only about 4 short hours after we arrived!! It was a really amazing birth for me. I always dreamed of going into natural labor by myself and not having my water break. Well, it happened! I remember saying to someone at about 8 pm, "Only an idiot wishes this on themselves." HA.

 Our smallest munchkin by 1 oz. 6 lbs 3 oz and 18.5 inches.  He had some meconium in his fluid which was a new experience for me.  He did just fine.

 It's been the easiest physical recovery to date. The epidural was fantastic. I could move and feel but not hurt. Awesome. Today at 12 days post partum I went on my first treadmill run. Nice.

 So he was born on his big sissy's birthday. She was thrilled.

 Our complete family.

 4 kids. They love him.

 One very proud big bro.

 Sully really couldn't care less about him most of the time.  It's ok. He's been sick.

 He actually likes his pacifier which is also a first for us! We love him so much. He's such a sweet boy and looooves his mama.

Overdue

Yeah still here due 2 days ago. 7 years ago I bought a thanksgiving outfit for Mira to wear home from the hospital. This will be the 2nd time we don't use it. I threw it away today. I'm not overly coping well. I didn't in my wildest dreams expect to still be pregnant on thanksgiving. It is what it is. When I'm with dr M I can talk rationally about my wishes against induction, but I really am over it and not very excited about the prospect of a December baby. 

Friday night I worked. It went well, but Saturday I barely slept at all. At noon I was WIDE awake. This never happens to me. I can always sleep. So I ended up calling in for my last shift....which I just don't do. My unit didn't really need me so I shouldn't have felt bad, but did anyway. We had a little thanksgiving dinner at my moms that night. 

I do so love my Sullsie. He's so sweet. 

My view from the treadmill today. Yeah, still treadmilling it. Every day. I've run some off and on this week, but mostly walking. I think I've got in about 13 miles since Sunday so far? Baby likes to run and always has a nice dance party afterward. 

Hanging with my boys. The days are long. I'm short with the kids, really short. It doesn't make me feel like a very good mom. I'm really ready to move on. This extended fun I think will cement my feelings of being oh so done with this stage of life. 

#4 will be oh so worth every painful hour, that I know.

Mira B

Last week Mira had her holiday program. It had nothing to do with Christmas, it was a barnyard musical. Still cute. She looked about 12. 

Had a small speaking part- which she had memorized but she read it anyway. 

Programs at their school suck. You sit in these horrid chairs and you can't see anything. Not mention the idiots that hold their phone above their head videoing. 

Mira is a bit of a book hoarder. She has them in stacks everywhere, is never without one, has at least 3-4 in her back pack at any given time, and frequently has 2-3 hidden in her sheets. This is how I find her most nights. A girl after aunt Molly's heart. 

A week with Sully

Sully and I had a pretty good week. I vowed we would do some fun activities while we could and also to keep my mind off my lack of control of this baby situation. More on that later. Monday we went to the zoo. First time at the penguin exhibit. It isn't the best exhibit, but for our zoo I didn't feel like it was all that bad. 

He liked it anyway! 

We ended up seeing 2 work friends there and one of their kiddos is in sullys class at school. We had fun! 

Wednesday we met another friend at monkey business. We again had a great time! 

Weds night was rough. Really rough. The kids came home from school and were playing well. I had decided to take griffin to Tkd because Mira has her program tonight. Mira was invited out to eat with our neighbors because their kid had to miss her party. Well, she was out of control the entire time we were there and basically refusing to listen to me. I warned her way too many times that she wouldn't be able to go if she couldn't get it together. Well as we were leaving she had a fight with griffin and ended up kicking him. I had it. I didn't let her go to dinner. I admit there's a reason the kids don't often take our threats seriously. .Following  through on them is tough, and not fun for me either. Well I'm finished with the disrespect. Of course it was awful and a LOT of crying, but she's going to know that Mean business. 

So I needed me some sully monster. And isn't he cute!? I'm trying to remind myself that the kids are always crazy right before a new baby comes and I always think, "I'm an idiot for Doing this." 

Baby is "head downish" but honestly not consistently. I felt it turn again the other day. I considered calling dr m, but what's she going to do about it? Obviously it won't stay where we put it, so I'm hoping it will just get big enough that it can't turn anymore. We will see, but the lack of control is really testing my OCD causing some depression. Work Is a really good distraction for me, so I'm actually glad to be doing 3 in a row here this week. We will see what happens Monday! 

Party!!!

Saturday was a very long day.....I attempted to sleep until around 1, but the kids were terrible. Tons of screaming and fighting. Sigh. Too much excitement. Griffin had his last Y basketball game and then they both had basketball assessment for upward. Around 230 I felt like puking but alas, we headed to Chuck E Cheese. The party was a success. A couple of friends didn't show up, but that's ok. There was plenty of fun and it just meant the kids got to play more games. 

I know it looks like a racket, but seriously parents, this is the place to have a party. You have zero responsibility, there's zero mess, zero prep, and zero cleanup. Perfect. 

She just is getting so old.... 

She got some cute stuff from her friends. 

And my Sullsie was cute! 

I am beyond glad it's over. I can't imagine if I had waited until after baby. Whew! Good decision! 

A quick week

This week seemed to fly. Monday I went to my usual appointment with dr M. Baby not head down. Nice. So Tuesday we went for an ultrasound to confirm. Nope, not head down. We also learned that baby is quite small, probably about the same size sully was, but when you put numbers with it like "less than the 3rd percentile," and "measures 34 weeks" it sounds sortof scary. So I waited for her to call. Well she didn't. In the mean time I found a chiropractor 40 minutes away who specializes in a method of getting babies to turn. Wednesday I finally called dr m. She said we would wait until Next Monday and see what position we find. At that point we will decide if we want to try and make baby turn or wait. I asked about size and she said, "well we can't all be the same." So true so true, but I know many doctors that might flip a lid over an extremely small baby and I am once again reminded how lucky I am to have her. 

Baby looked perfect in every way and I got to see lots of good things. No gender shots!!! We decided if baby stays on the wrong position we will attempt to turn it. It can be risky, but the baby is monitored the entire time and I would be in good hands. If it doesn't work then we will plan a c-section. This might devastate some people, but I am really in this whole pregnancy thing to come out with a healthy baby, so whatever baby wants or needs, we will do it. 

I picked up Sully and we headed home. When we got there I was a little stressed. Not knowing what dr m would think. And I looked at him and thought- there he is. Mr "less than 3rd percentile" absolutely perfect. And we moved on. 

The next day he and I were both feeling under the weather so we just sat around and rested all day. It must have helped because we were both better Friday morning. 

After not sleeping Friday before work (not for lack of trying), I upholstered this board to cover the fuse box in the basement. Easy and cute! The letters will be painted the teal color down there. Turned out good!! 

We are having Mira's birthday party Saturday so it's out of the way no matter what happens in the next few weeks. Should be fun! 

Halloween

Halloween has come an gone. Baby is full term and naughty. We will get to that.... Sullsie is the cutest. I can't get enough. 

Thomas! He was annoyed because he was too short for the costume, but it was quite adorable and he did actually wear it. 

Our pumpkins 

Griffy got tired fast and just stayed home after a couple of streets. 

The cousins 

It was a fun Halloween! So baby is never head down when we see dr M. Griffin was a late breech but he was cooperating by this time. I am nearly 100% sure baby was right this weekend, but by yesterday in the office was sideways. By this point there should be a position the baby is stuck in....but this baby is still up and down and all around. Maybe it's a Mira! 

So we are having an ultrasound today to determine just where it is. I'm not really concerned about position. If position is wrong at least we will have a plan, I'm more worried that they will tell me it's way too small. There's nothing I can do about it, but i still worry. Some people would say it's my fault for running so much, but I know for a fact that exercise doesn't cause small babies, so I know it's not my fault. So we will see!