Fall Soccer 2014

Both Kendree and Easton participated in soccer this year.  The league we play with also changed up their uniforms (all adidas) so the cost went up $25 per kid!  Ouch! The kids did look pretty cute in their "official" uniforms though.

Kendree enjoyed going to practices and games, but was not the most aggressive player.  Something that actually surprised me.

This picture is pretty accurate, Kendree just running, the ball technically behind her.  No worries

Easton is a much more serious player.  He had a lot of fun this year and really improved.  It's hard to teach your kids to be nice to people in general, but then to steal the ball.

We had a cute sideline cheerleader!

A few more pictures of Kendree:

End of the season picture. Easton was on the Portland Timbers (under 8 league) and Kendree was on the Rapids (under 6 league).

Devynee needed to join this one.

Sometimes Devynee needs a little entertainment.  These last three pictures are her view. :)

When Grandpa Cali was visiting, he got some awesome pictures.

And now a few videos:

Brynlee Kay Arrives!

On Wednesday, October 15th at 9:20 a.m. Brynlee Kay made her appearance into the world weighing in at 6 lbs. 4 oz. and 19 inches long.

I think it's safe to say, that she looks like she belongs! Ron and I were not concerned about taking home the wrong baby. :)

 All dressed and ready to go home! (10/16/14)

You forget just how small they really are, until you see them dwarfed in the carseat!

The Birth Story

And here it is.

The post that some of you devour and others do anything to avoid.

I called the hospital at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14th and was given the all clear to come in.  Ron and I arrived at admissions just after 8:00 a.m. and were sent upstairs just a few minutes later.  We went straight into a labor and delivery room and after I changed into a lovely hospital gown, they monitored the baby for 20 minutes and then the midwife came in and injected the cervidil gel to hopefully get contractions started.  I was dilated to 2 cm at that point (around 9:00 a.m.). I had to remain lying down for an hour after the injection and then was permitted to get up and walk.  And walk I did!  I walked and walked and walked.  I walked as much as they would let me (in between monitoring checks) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The gel did get contractions started and while they were regular, they were not very painful.

At 4:00 p.m. I had dilated to about a 3.5 or 4, but the baby hadn't dropped much (she was in a -2 position).  I was then started on a very low dose of pitocin.  From then on, I couldn't get up to move anymore (except for bathroom breaks). They started the pitocin low and then moved me up one dose (the numbers they used started at one and went up by one) every 30 minutes if the baby looked good.

During this time, I asked both the midwife and the OB on call to break my water, as I knew that this little girl would come very quickly once that happened.  Neither would agree to do that until the baby had dropped down further, or until I had dilated more as they were concerned about two things.  One, that a fast delivery would stress her out and two, that her small size and higher position would allow the cord to come below her head when the water gushed out. I was very frustrated by this, but as soon as the OB started talking about how if I wanted the baby out quickly, I could always get a c-section, I stopped arguing and decided to wait until the next day when the OB would rotate off.

By the time it was midnight, my pitocin dose was at a 13 and I was feeling the contractions, though still not having to breathe through them.  Overnight, the baby's movement and heart rate went into a sleeping state, so they did not increase pitocin.  I was able to get 30-45 minutes of sleep at a time from midnight to about 6 a.m. and surprisingly wasn't as exhausted as I thought I would be in the morning.

At 6 a.m. the baby started waking up and they continued to increase pitocin, this time by 2 or 3 numbers at a time.  I was quickly at a 18 dose and the nurse was just "sure" that the baby had flipped and was no longer head down as everyone she has worked with that the baby is head down and the dose is at a 18 is screaming in pain.  I was not screaming.  I was, however, breathing through the contractions, but could manage this pain for a while still (I told them I was a 7 on the pain scale at this point*).

At 8:35 a.m. Dr. Vigue, the doctor that initially diagnosed the baby as IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) and the Dr. I had been seeing the most regularly through all of my appointments, came in as she was now on call for the day.  She checked to see how far I was (still 3.5-4 cm dilated and baby still at a -2 position) and said to the nurse "hand me the amniotic hook."  She then broke my water and we were on our way. It happened so fast that I almost didn't have time to react, but I knew it was time to get my game on.

My pain immediately increased to an 8 or 9 and began to really have to use all of my "techniques**" to get through the contractions.  I had Ron apply counter pressure on my lower back for most of this time period and that helped a ton. At 9:15 a.m. I had Ron press the call button (moving was not an option for me) as I wasn't ready to push yet, but could tell it was really close.  Dr. Vigue had me switch sides for the next few contractions and then it was time.

Two pushes later, Brynlee Kay arrived! She was tiny and perfect and not as little as the nurses and doctors were expecting.  She did great on all of her tests and they didn't need any of the emergency NICU equipment they had ready just in case. She was born at 9:20 a.m. and was 6 lbs. 4 oz. and 19 inches long.  I was so excited to have her here and to be done!***

*Ron and I have very different ideas of the pain scale.  While I can't truly remember how much childbirth hurts (until I'm doing it again), I know that it is worse than anything else I have felt, so I save that 10 number for when the baby is coming out.  I then gauge everything backwards off of that.  Most of the day we were in the hospital, I was at a 2 or 3 on the pain scale.  That was the honest truth.  At home, I wouldn't have even taken medicine for that kind of pain.  As the pitocin increased, my pain went up some, but I always knew it was going to be so much worse, so I had to save some numbers for the end. :) I will also say that I was very close to asking for the epidural with this one.  24 hours is a long time to labor! If Dr. Vigue would have given me any time to reconsider before breaking my water, I may have caved. Through the entire stay, whenever a new nurse or doctor would confirm that I did not want an epidural they would look at me like I was a crazy person, until I explained that this would be my 3rd birth with no drugs.  Their facial expressions were pretty great though.

**I have no real techniques besides breathing, closing my eyes and relaxing any muscle I can find that will obey. Ron applying counter pressure this time was a new one, but much needed.

***While I was SUPER frustrated with no one on Tuesday being willing to break my water, I know that Brynlee just wanted to come on the Lord's timing and not on mine.  I would do it all again as long as she would come safe and sound. Another side note - our hosptial usually delivers about three babies a day (which was true on Tuesday while I was laboring).  On Wednesday, they delivered NINE!  Brynlee was the first and at one point they had all six delivery rooms full and women were laboring in the waiting room, waiting for a room to open!

And because I know you might want to compare:
Easton's birth story (I love that I talk about how quickly I progress in this one.  Oh, how little I knew!)
Kendree's birth story
Devynee's birth story

38 weeks

The last official picture of this pregnancy:

This is it. The morning that I went in to the hospital to be induced.  Feeling good and not too big, but I guess ready to meet this little darling.

Heartburn has been really ramping up this week, I hope this girl has hair to show for it. I got a lot of things done around the house, meals frozen for when I am all on my own again, and the cleaning people came and made my house sparkling clean!

Grandma and Grandpa Cali arrived this weekend from California and were a big help - especially the day before induction, as I had a hair cut, the cleaning people coming, a doctor's appointment and hospital pre-registration. All the kids were out of school, so childcare was extra appreciated.

Can't believe I'm about to be the mom of 4! Crazy town.

Other baby4 updates: 37 weeks, 36 weeks, 34 weeks, 30 weeks, 28 weeks, 24 weeks, 22 weeks, 20 weeks, 16 weeks.

Wanna Compare?
Devynee at 38 weeks
Kendree at 38 weeks
Easton at 39 weeks

37 weeks

37 weeks.  Holy Moly.  It is definitely go time.  Finally, this week's appointment was the one where they would measure the baby again and determine how she has done for the last three weeks. She passed her NSTs this week with flying colors and then did great in the ultrasound for all of the movement markers.  Unfortunately, while she did get bigger, her growth has slowed down (she is smaller than even the due date that I think is correct) and her belly continues to measure a lot smaller than that.  I didn't even have to ask for them to measure things more than once as there was a student who started the ultrasound so she measured and then the full-time tech came in and measured two more times for everything.  Her doppler numbers (which I interpret as the blood flow in the umbilical cord) are also elevated. There was no reason for additional concern, but they still want to induce me.  I scheduled the induction for the 14th and feel very at peace about that decision.  I think the Lord knew that I needed to have some comfort that I wasn't doing the wrong thing. I will be just over 38 weeks (according to me) or almost 40 weeks (according to the doctor).

Checking things off my list continued this week.  I took the truck in to be detailed, which wasn't in any way vital except that it has been on the list for a year.  I also scheduled a company to come deep clean some things before this baby comes.  Little did I know that I actually scheduled them for the DAY before this baby will come. :)

I have never yet had a contraction that I am aware of and continue to feel good.  I'm not sure if it is the fact that I am smaller than I have been with the other kids, but I really don't feel that huge or uncomfortable unless I am rolling over in bed. :)

Now, less than one week to go.  That is insane.

Other baby4 updates: 36 weeks, 34 weeks, 30 weeks, 28 weeks, 24 weeks, 22 weeks, 20 weeks, 16 weeks

Wanna Compare?
Devynee at 37 weeks
Kendree at 37 weeks
Easton [not documented]

36 weeks

And here we are....at 36 weeks. The bi-weekly appointments continue and aside from a not so great appointment on Thursday, September 18th, this little girl has performed with flying colors.  During that appointment, her heart rate and movement were not what they have usually been, which caused the doctor to order an extra ultrasound on Monday.  Thanks to a priesthood blessing from Ronnie and my dad, things have looked wonderful ever since.

Surprisingly, I have been sleeping really well!  I have to wake up to move as per usual, but have been sleeping for long periods of time in one position.  The best.

I have had such wonderful support from friends with watching the girls during my 2-3 hour appointments.  I am so grateful for each of them and don't know what I would do without them!

Still no consistent food cravings, but I have been indulging in chocolate a little more than usual since my babies have never tolerated it while nursing.  People call me crazy when I say that, but the difference is super noticeable with me, so I go on a no chocolate diet for at least six months after the baby is born.  And that means no chocolate.  Not even one chocolate chip.  Oh well, I suppose there are a lot of worse things that I could have to deal with. :)

I've been knocking things off my to-do list.  The swing is set up (in the basement) just waiting to come upstairs when we need it and the bassinet is doing the same thing.  I've also packed my hospital bag and a bag of things for Ron to bring to the hospital after the baby is here and it is time to go home.

Other baby4 updates: 34 weeks, 30 weeks, 28 weeks, 24 weeks, 22 weeks, 20 weeks, 16 weeks

Wanna Compare?
Devynee at 36 weeks
Kendree at 36 weeks
Easton at 36 weeks

September 2014: Random Catch Up

Devynee insisted on being a part of a few of Kendree's first day of preschool pictures.  Her smile kills me.

And one more outside.

Instagram: September 2014

First day of preschool!  This little girl gets to enjoy a one day a week school with some of her favorite church friends.

She insisted on an outdoor, no-jacket shot on her rainy first day of preschool.  Unicorn shirt also a Kendree must-have. #sheknowswhatshewants

Spent the afternoon with a good friend, crafting this beauty. Felt good to stretch a different set of crafting legs.  On a side note, why are "back to school" decorations so hard to find? I can only do pumpkins and fall leaves for so long...

You're just jealous that you don't have a BYU helmet to wear while you watch the game.

Finished a Halloween table runner last night!  I've had the fabric for over two years (man, that sentence sounds familiar). Obviously this was a super important before-baby-comes to-do item.

Baby4 sure does have a cute footprint!  The reason I got this look yesterday isn't quite as exciting.  My uterus and (upon more measuring) her stomach are measuring small and just like that I am scheduled for bi-weekly doctor appointments, non-stress tests, and ultrasounds. Right now she is checking out fine and the docs just want to be cautious.  So grateful for good doctors.

Usually, my standard promise of "I'll put it on your wish list" is enough to stop any store tantrum.  Today, only a picture of the item would suffice. #devydidntwantthewatch #justthejewelryboxitwasin

Last baby4 sewing project completed! Minky blanket and lovey sized one as well. #whew!

Oh, the things kids say...

Just a few of the recent things the kids have said that I've made sure to write down.

September 2014 - Devynee calls the living room, the "hallroom." This is a little confusing because the hall is also the "hallroom." Keeps me on my toes.

September 2014 - During my work meeting at the beginning of the month, my saint of a mother was watching the two girls all day long.  She had her visiting teachers come to visit.  One of the women is named Bunny.  When my mom introduced Kendree to her, Kendree naturally fell in love with her name and in true Kendree fashion asked about 20 questions about why her name was Bunny, who named her Bunny, etc.  My mom had mentioned that Kendree was cute when Bunny came to visit to my dad on the phone, so when he got home, he made sure to ask her about Grandma's friend that she had met.  Kendree animatedly told Grandpa that she had met Grandma's friend, [insert a pause here] "Alligator!" She then said "No! [insert another pause here] "Bird!" Grandpa decided he better give a little prompt and said "Was it an animal that hops?" and Kendree yelled out "BUNNY!!!!!" Oh, how I wish I could have been there for that one.

September 2014 - Devynee is running naked down the hall.  Kendree runs past yelling "Avert your eyes! Avert your eyes!"

September 2014 - Easton still calls Chicago "Chi-chag-o." I just wanted to document it, since just about two months ago he figured out that the baseball team is the Yankees and not the "Ankees."

September 2014 - Kendree was very frustrated with Easton in the car (the reason escapes me) but she wanted to let him know how she felt, so she turned to him and said, "You are DICULATION!!!" I have no idea what she was trying to say, but she made her point.

September 2014 - We signed up Easton for his own fantasy football team that Ronnie essentially runs for him.  When he is talking about players on the Green Bay Packers, he always calls them "Green Buy" first and then has to correct himself.