A Huge Surprise! - Bliss' Birth Story

     When I went to my post-natal check-up after Camden was born, my doctor told me that when Matt and I were ready for another little one, to let him know.  There were certain medicines that I would need to take to keep the baby healthy right from the start. We kept that in mind.
     In the mean time, after much discussion and prayer, we decided to become foster parents (I will dedicate another post to this story later on). During our second placement, I began to feel really weird. I thought my body was really messed up. At one point (because I'm usually pretty in tune with my body), I even thought, "If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was pregnant...Nah!" After a while, Matt became concerned too, and told me to make a doctor's appointment. I was planning on it, but decided to take a pregnancy test before I called, knowing that would be the first question they would ask. I wanted to have my ducks in a row. When two lines immediatly showed up, I handed the test to Matt, speechless. He looked at it and said, "Test again." So, I did, getting the same result.
     Tears just flowed, because it was too late in the evening to call a doctor. I felt like a horrible mom. I just kept thinking, " If only I had tested a couple of weeks ago. I could already have been on medicine." It's just that it seemed impossible. Things just didn't add up. After puttings all of the kids to bed, I sank into my own bed with a heavy heart, praying for my baby.
     The next morning, Matt woke me up before leaving for work. He said, "Take another test." I did (Thank goodness for three packs). I gave it to him while he was standing by the door ready to leave. He looked at the two lines, turned around and left for work without uttering a word. I'm telling you, we were shocked!
     I called my OB as soon as the office opened. I told them I was pregnant, and needed some medicine. They told me that the doctor was out of town, and that I'd have to wait for him to write the prescription when he got back. I couldn't make anyone understand. I cried to them, letting them know that I could not lose another baby. They said they couldn't help me. I had to figure something out. That's it! My Mom! I try to wait to tell people that I'm expecting when I'm further along, but I also needed help. I didn't want to tell her over the phone, so I drove to the hospital where she works. I told her I was expecting, and that I couldn't get in touch with my doctor to get meds. She stepped up handled things. She called another doctor, explained the situation, and got my medicine prescribed right then. She also got me in to see the doctor very quickly. I took my sister-in-law with me to my first appointment. Matt couldn't get off work, and I didn't want to go by myself in case there may have been bad news.
     The doctor gave me an ultrasound. Do you know what? Everything was fine. [ INSERT GIANT SIGH AND TEARS OF RELIEF HERE] The baby looked great! Since it was nothing short of God's divine intervention that I was pregnant, then why hadn't I figured out that God had this handled too?
      To let you know how much more of a God thing this was, you should know that out of my grandmother-in-law's three grandkids, every single one of their wives were expecting. My due date was October 27, another's was also October 27th, and the other's was November 27th. That's crazy to me!
     When I started showing, we decided to share the news by sending out invitations. The card said something like:

You're Invited

What: A Birthday Party

When: Sometime around October 27th

Where: Baptist Medical Center

R.S.V.P.: (I put our phone numbers here)

     We stuck them in the mail, and headed off to Branson. You wouldn't believe the calls we got while we were there. Some people called with uncontrolled laughter, some with shock, some with disbelief, some were like, "Is this saying what I think it's saying?" The cards were a success! When each person called, it was like we got to celebrate all over again. It was definitely my favorite reveal!
     The rest of the pregnancy went great as usual. Toward the end, my doctor started talking about an early induction. If you've read my other posts, you know that I have big babies. She was just trying to save me from a c-section. I really like to go into labor on my own, though, so I begged my doctor to give me a little longer. She agreed, but gave me a deadline. I had been having contractions for a few weeks, but they were changing me slowly. 
     On a Sunday, when we got home from church, Mom called me up. She was bored, so we decided to go to the hospital and have someone check on my progress. We stopped and ate Subway on the way. We got there around 2:00 or 2:30. When the nurse checked me, she said, "Raven, what were you dialated  at your check-up the other day?"
     Me: "She said a two. Why? What am I? Still a two?"
     Nurse: "Six."
     Um...say what? Did she just say six? Breathe Raven. Collect yourself. "Okay. We'll go home, so I can help Matt get the boys ready. Then I'll ride back with him." 
     Nurse: "You can't leave. You're in labor."
     Me: "I don't feel in labor. Can I hang out in Little Rock for a while?"
     Nurse: "I am going to go call the doctor." [Exit Nurse]
     I scrambled to get myself together and then marched myself right out to that desk. I heard the nurse tell my doctor my status, and then that I wanted to go home and get everything together and come back. Then I heard my doctor laugh. I figured that meant I wasn't going anywhere.
     I called Matt to let him know that I was aparently in labor, and that he would need to put the clothes in the dryer and get the boys ready and head my way. Well,... Matt flipped out. The boys weren't dressed, and Camden had just poured Kool-Aid in his hair. This was not going as planned. I hoped Matt remembered to put the clothes in the dryer. He got there a little after 4:00 I think (about the time I  actually started  feeling like I was in labor), and about two and a half hours later I was complete. A few minutes after that, my daughter was born.

This is my living doll.

Bliss Elaine
8 pounds 9 ounces
20 inches long
Born at 6:43 P.M.

This is her a couple hours later after her first bath. She's wearing an outfit that I made for her.

Of course, you know this experience surfaced a few reminders.
1. Surprises are indeed surprises!
     - I always thought a surprise pregnancy would really neat. What I didn't think about, was that in order to be surprised, it couldn't be planned.

2. A mother will go any lenth to protect her child.
     - My mom jokes around that I sounded like an addict
contacting whomever I had to in order to get my meds.

3.If God has a will for your life, he will provide a door.
     - God arranged our pregnancy and he took care of my baby girl. Trust me, I know that things don't always turn out happy or what we see as perfect, but I do know that God has a perfect will.

4.God's plan's are always the best plans. Period.
     -While another baby was not in our plans at the time, I don't even want to think about life any other way. I cannot look at this baby without smiling. She truly live's up to her name. She IS an overwhelming joy. This is the face I get to see every day of my life!

Here is Little Miss Priss Bliss at her First Birthday Party.



A lesson in Miracles - Camden's Birth Story

     When Matt and I decided we were ready to have another baby, we expected things to go just like the last time. It didn't happen that way, though. I won't get into too much detail, but after multiple losses (and obviously massive devastation with each loss), I was not handling things well at all.
     God spoke to me through someone who had been through so much more than I had. The thing that she told me that stuck with me the most was, "DON'T YOU DARE let circumstances like this happen in vain. Take this and become closer to the Lord because of it." That's exactly what I did. I picked myself up, poured over my Bible, prayed without ceasing, and God become my best friend. I still cried often. Years later, even now, I still do when I think about it. I would have never wanted these circumstances, but I wouldn't change that most intimate time with the Lord. It forever changed my life, and strengthened my faith. In the midst of one of the darkest times of my life, God performed a miracle in me.   
     When we were ready to try again, we saw a fertility doctor. A couple months later, we were expecting again. The doctor's office was our second home for a couple months. When all looked okay, we were able to go back to our regular OB. I had a great pregnancy. I LOVE being pregnant.
     When I was 38 1/2 weeks, we had finally settled on a name. At exactly thirty nine weeks, I went into labor right after I woke up for the day. The pain wasn't so bad though. Mom came and hung out. We went to the hospital just to see what my progress was. I was three to four centimters. The nurse said they could admit me then, or I could go walk around for a while if I wanted. I decided to go eat mexican food (Yum-o!) and go shopping. Probably not the best idea, I know. Then I went home, straightened the house up, and did my nails. At about ten o'clock that night, I started hurting a bit more intensly. It was about that time that the hospital had called and said things were starting to get busy. So, if I wanted a room, I had better come on in (Thank the Lord for connections). So, we loaded up an went.

Here is what I looked like pregnant with this whopper. Can we say, "Giant?"

   I think I was around 5 or more centimeters upon arrival to the hospital. Things were pretty uneventful until my water broke. I was standing in my room when a contraction hit. I could not move or speak. When I found words, I yelled for Matt to get someone to get me my epidural NOW. I always tell people that only Jesus himself felt more pain than that. After Matt helped me to the bed, he went and got someone. I had another one of those monster contractions, and told the anesthesia person that another was coming and to hurry so I wouldn't have to suffer through it. He said he would have to wait until that contraction was over, because he could not stick a needle in my back when I was tense. Are you kidding me!?! Ugh! Anyhow, I got my epidural, and was a very happy woman. I slept until the nurse came in to check my progress. She told me I was eight centimeters and that maybe in about an hour or so we could have our baby.
     Five minutes later, I felt intense pressure. I told Matt to get someone because the baby was coming and could not wait. The nurse came to check things out, got a frightened look on her face, and called the desk to tell them to find the doctor because she couldn't leave the room. It took them what seemed like forever to find the doctor. I told them Camden would have to be born without one. Thankfully the doctor came in just in time to catch Camden. It wasn't even a whole push before that little man said hello to the world.

Silas was the first to come in and meet his baby brother. He kept telling everyone he was going to have a pink baby. Ha!

Camden Isaiah
9 pounds 1 ounce
22 inches long
Born at 6:20 A.M.

         Looking down at my sweet newborn boy really made me think about not only what a miracle HE was, but every baby that is born perfectly healthy. I am amazed and somewhat obsessed with how God takes a speck sized fertilized egg and, in nine short months, turns it into a masterpiece. He makes a whole baby! Every organ is perfectly formed. Every body part is perfectly placed. To me, one of the biggest miracles is a newborn baby.

Would I love him? - Silas' Birth Story

     When Matt and I had been married for about a year and a half, when I was 21 years old, we decided we were ready to have a baby. Immediately after, and I do mean immediately, we were expecting. I was so excited! During my last trimester, however, I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into. I never was a kid person. I would hold babies that everyone would go crazy over, and think "Eh...I'm just not feelin' it". I became terrified that I would not love Silas. I had begun to let that fear consume me.
     Fast foward to the night before Silas' birth. I was at an ornament exchange, and I just started thinking that things felt different. Not physically, but I couldn't explain it. Maybe the game of categories raised my blood pressure. Hee! Hee! Just kidding. (I do think I won, though.) I just felt like life was about to change....soon!  That night I went to bed and woke up in a puddle. A few minutes later, I started feeling the contractions. I had Matt call my Mom (a labor and delivery nurse) to tell her I was in pain. She told Matt to ask me if it was pain I was feeling or just fear? Ummm....I think I may have been a little short in my reply. Sorry Mom, but I was hurting! I won't even mention the fact (or maybe I will) that she asked if there was a possibility that I just peed in the bed. The nerve! She just didn't want me to have a false hope if I wasn't really in labor. Mom did come over and help us time contractions and stuff. She's the best nurse I know.
      I do like to labor at home as long I can, so at about ten o'clock that morning Matt and I were on our way to the hospital. I remember stopping a few times in the parking lot because I had a difficult time walking with contractions. Never the less, it was still quite some time before my baby boy would arrive. I was about 5 centimeters when I got there. Several hours later, I was stuck at eight. And Silas had not dropped.  They informed me I would need  a c-section, and went to set up. Meanwhile, the tears wouldn't cease. This is not how I had hoped things would turn out. My wonderful nurse, feeling sorry for me, got a thoughtful look on her face and said, " Raven, why don't we just see what happens when you push. After just one contraction Silas had moved all the way down and he was born just a few contractions later. Since his cord was wrapped from head to toe like a decorated Christmas tree (which would explain the terrifying decels), I did not get to hold him right away. Thankfully all of the necessary equipment was in the room, so Silas never had to leave my side while they were making him all better.
   Now, back to my fear that I wasn't going to love him. That was DUMB! I loved him with a new kind of love that I had never experienced before (Yes, I know that's what all of you moms had tried to tell me). And I hadn't even held him yet. The nurse told my mom that I just kept crying, repeating the words, "My baby, my baby".  He was able to stay in the room with me the whole hospital stay. I wanted to hold him constantly. The times the nurses did have to take him to the nursery for one reason or another, I would cry and keep calling the nurse asking when they were going to bring him back. I bet they LOVED me. Ha! They probably couldn't wait until I was discharged. It didn't change when we were home either. I never put him down. To this day, I can't let him be gone too long or too far away.
     So, good thing for Silas, God worked it all out. He is loved. I know a few of you were really worried about how this post would end. Well, get a look at this.

Silas Russell
8 pounds 3 ounces
20 1/2 inches long
Born at 8:03 P.M.

    
That was then.......This is now.....

Introducing...

The first thing I should do is introduce you to my family.

This is me. Yes I'm big and pregnant here, but I like this picture. I feel I have a certain glow. LOL! I love my life. I stay home and homeschool my little ones. Everyday is a new adventure that I can't wait to explore. I cherish each day, and have made it my goal to not take any time with them for granted.

This is my husband, Matt. He is great for me. He is almost always doing something fun with us or planning something fun to do with us. He likes to help with anything. He is a servant. That is his love language. If I need something for a home project or a homeschool project, he almost always makes it for us. He LOVES a challenge! When he does something, he does it BIG! Ooh, how I love this man!

This is Silas. He is six. He is an old soul. He loves talking to anyone he meets. He has a story for everything. He likes food that you wouldn't think a six year old would like. He loves old movies. Silas loves the Lord with his everything. He can often be caught stopping everything to pray, even if it's in the middle of Walmart. He is my cuddler, my list maker, my dreamer. The only problem is he is a bit of a hoarder. YIKES! I'll get more into that when it's his turn for my "Silas" blog.

This is Camden. He is three. Camden is his daddy in EVERY way. He looks like Matt, acts like Matt, and even walks like him. He is rough and tumble. His smile will make you melt. He can often be found copying everything his brother does, because he is obsessed with him. Strangly enough, at the same time, he doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do. He marches to the beat of his own drum. Camden is extremely technology savvy and great with numbers (for a three year old that is). He likes to "wash" dishes, help cook, and eat lots and lots of ketchup (oh, and apples).

And this...this is little Miss Bliss Elaine. She is one. This picture, taken by my wonderful sister-in-law, captures this little one's personality perfectly.  I really didn't know what to expect with a girl. It is COMPLETELY different. I know that I have completely intensified it, but she seems to love it, and so do I. She is my "Lovely". Matt and the boys are completely wrapped. I love to watch their exchanges with her. Bliss is dainty when she needs to be, and a firecracker when lifes "trials" need her to be so. She loves her purses, music, baby dolls, and glowworms. Black beans are her favorite food. Fairy Colors is her favorite book. Bliss loves her bed. And I love my girl!!!