Jessica Grace Arrives!!

So, are you ready for the birth story? :)  My water broke at 1230 (middle of the night on Friday).  Why do babies like to start things in the middle of the night?  lol  Any way, it woke me from sleep.  We called the sitter and got to the hospital around 130 AM.  Even though my water had broken, I was not in labor and not having any sort of consistent contractions.  I was still admitted though since my water broke and I was on a time clock, due to risk of infection.  The nurses informed me that agressive intervention would begin around 7 or 8 am, which was not what we really wanted to hear.  

Dr Peters ordered Pitocin around 9 AM, but we asked if we could talk to him first.  He came in and checked me and I had gone from a 0 to 4 in dilation so he said I could continue to try to get things started on my own.  We walked and walked and rested and walked and used the birth ball and rested and walked some more and rested and snuck a few snacks because I wasn't allowed to eat.  

I was checked again and at 7 so we were allowed to continue.  I was still not getting consistent contractions, just here and there.  Around 245 Pitcoin was started, however, because I was on 14 hours after my water breaking.  I was scared to start Pit; I had it with Hunter and felt it was really hard.  However, Dr Peters started it at the lowest dose of 1 and only had to bump me up to 2.  

I definitely started to get stronger contractions, but still not totally consistent.  I started to get pretty discouraged and bored and impatient and hungry (hadn't eaten since Thursday night).  Sean came over and asked how I was doing and I said I was done and was giving up and I was about to say maybe we should just get a C section when I got a REALLY strong contraction and felt the need to push immediately.  Sean rang for a nurse, but no one came, so he went and got the Dr.  He came in and checked me and Jessica's head was crowning and so they quickly got all their equipment ready.  I pushed once, but went a little overboard trying to get her out lol and Dr Peters looked at me sternly and told me "Hettie, stop".  LOL.  So I did.  Again really weird, but I never felt the strong urge to push or any other strong contractions, but decided to just lightly push without announcing it to see what would happen and voila out came our beautiful baby girl!  Crying.  Sweet music.  And hallelujah I barely tore at all this time!  Cord was wrapped around her neck twice, but it was loose.  

So me and baby and daddy are doing great and are so very thankful to the Lord for everything going so smoothly! 

The last 2 babies (Addie and Jess) have been very untextbook like labors with not very much in the way of contractions (probably had a total of 8-10 strong ones with Jessica that were not timeable) and only one urge to push really.  I can only say that God is amazing and I can only give Him all the glory, honor, and praise. It was all His doing.  I really had fears about pain and labor and delivery this time around and never really wanted labor to get started because I was scared of it.  Probably didn't help that I had been reading scary birth stories!  God did give me Psalm 34:4, which really brought comfort. 

Kiddos are great at home and well taken care of and can't wait to meet baby Jessica, and Grammy and Granpop are on their way here.  Should be here tomorrow.  Overwhelmed with our loving church family, too, who is babysitting for us, went grocery shopping for us, and is bringing us 2 weeks worth of meals.  We don't deserve all this.  God's grace and mercy!  

Addison Walking!

She's been taking steps here and there for close to a few weeks or more, but now she's starting to go some distance!
https://youtu.be/sHaVRii5pP4

4 Months!

 

And here's little man's stats: 

15 lbs 1/2 oz

26.5 in long

 

Side note:  WE GOT PAID BY OUR TENANTS YESTERDAY!!!!!  WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.  MATT 19:26

New church and anatomy ultrasound

After much prayer, God's guidance, and feeling we are follwing His will, we have started going to a new church.  It was a hard decision, but a right one.  Sean and the boys are still going to our church on Sundays, but I'm not going there anymore.  Of course I wasn't going Sundays because of work, but I was going to a women's Bible study on Thursdays.  It isn't that something happened, it's just that usually there isn't childcare and the boys and I were leaving frustrated because they were bored and loud and I was distracted and being a distraction to others.  I started researching other options and found an adult BIble study on Wednesday nights with childcare.  The church is Lakeside Community and is right up the road.  We went two weeks ago and unbeknownst to us it was perfect timing because it was the start of a new study that night.  A study on Muslims, which has been very informative and really interesting.  The boys are doing well in childcare.  Well, Ryan is.  Hunter is adjusting.  This is his first time being watched by someone other than us, really.  The people are kind and Sean and I are enjoying having time together, just me and him, fellowshipping, worshipping, and learning.  I missed going to church as a family.  I do miss our church and I'm so thankful that the boys can still be apart of it on Sundays.  I know we will be moving in a few months, but I still needed to be involved.  I am praying that we find a wonderful new church family in TN!

Side note:  :)  We had our anatomy ultrasound today and me and baby look great.  4 heart chambers, 2 kidneys, a stomach, 2 arms, 2 legs, left and right brain hemispheres, heartbeat of 139, feet and toes AND the ultrasound tech also ventured "down there" and knows the gender.  She put this classified info on 2 ultrasounds and sealed them in envelopes.  They are now in the mail and on their way....one to my mom and step-dad and one to a dear friend and her sweet hubby!  Not for us to know until delivery day!  :)  Praise God for our new blessing and for a healthy baby and mama.  This never is taken for granted and we are continually grateful and thankful for His lovekindness, grace, and mercy.  

Psalm 139:13-18
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.