Flying Solo(ish)

My mother-in-law left today and I shed many a tear. I know (Janet), I've been totally spoiled. I had my mom for a week and my mother-in-law for 6 days. I've only had a few days since Everett was born that I've had to get up with my kids in the morning. I hardly know what's in my fridge because meals have been taken care of. Kelly got a yeast infection just before Everett was born and every once in a while I would remember to ask my mom how it was looking because I wasn't changing the little lady's diaper. I haven't done laundry or cleaned a bathroom in two weeks...yet the laundry is done and the bathrooms are shiny. I even have clean sheets to crawl between tonight. Tonight Ty saw that the movie Brother Bear was recorded on the DVR and he asked me if it was a good movie. Ummm...you think I've associated much with our two other kids these past few weeks? My mom recorded and watched it with them. I must have been sleeping or taking a really long shower or something. I can't remember. But rest assured it was relaxing/rejuvenating...whatever it was. THANK YOU to Margaret for so much help and for being so fun to hang out with. She spent hours on the floor with Max going through his big bin of army guys and having battles. She brought some very cool costumes for the kids and read to them in the wee hours of the morning so I could sleep. I never worried about meals or entertainment for the kids. It was a perfect visit and I am so, so grateful that she came! We miss her like crazy. I am so, so lucky to have such a wonderful mother-in-law.

Now I get Ty home for a while! He usually takes off of work right after the baby is born and then the moms come. However, since Everett delayed his appearance and plane tickets were already bought, he's taking the time off now. It's going to be SO nice to have time as our little family and to have Ty to ourselves for a while. We need it. Here are some shots of my boys "watching" the superbowl together...I love these men and kind of like that Kelly and I are outnumbered.

Everett gets bigger every day. Really, like I wake up each morning and feel like he's grown overnight. His cheeks are filling out, his eyes are getting more round, his eyelashes are already looking luscious. I am anxious to see at his appt. today how much he weighs. He is our best baby yet. Not that we've had a difficult baby, but he is the easiest of the three. That could change, the boy will be just two weeks tomorrow, but for now we're feeling grateful that our third is so chill. And cute. Boy do we think he's cute. I don't think I mentioned before, but he has HUGE hands and feet. We might get a tall one after all. Ty tells me that I'm bringing down the average (height) for the fam...but Everett may just prove him wrong. He is named after his Papa Mick who is 6'5"; maybe that had something to do with it? That is, if he does turn out to be a tall one. Time will tell.

Max and Kelly LOVE to kiss and hold our little babe. Although there have been some meltdowns, we've had a really good and easy adjustment, I think. We are working on them refraining from kissing Everett a million times while he's asleep on the couch since it wakes the little dude up. Still, too many kisses is better than the alternative.

Photo by Kelly

So I guess I'm not really flying solo since Ty is going to be home...but we're flying solo as a family. No more motherly help. I'm the only momma in the house now. But I think I'm going to rock this three kid business. :) I'll report on that in a few weeks.

Okay, okay...

I guess you want to know about - and see - my new, beautiful, sweet-smelling, handsome baby boy! (Or at least my sisters do; they both called today for that specific reason.) But, I have to warn you that many tears will be shed on my computer keyboard while I type about this beautiful experience. Not like you'll be affected by them or even know they're there, but I hope my computer doesn't short out as a result.

Everett Daniel Foster took his first breath at 1:26 a.m. on Friday, January 29th. He weighed in at 7lb 6oz and was 20.4 inches long. He is, of course, a perfect little man. So handsome, so tiny, so fun to kiss and snuggle and stare at. We are smitten.

Birth Story

I last posted when we were headed to the hospital. We got there and by the time they got us in a room I was having very regular, strong contractions. However, they hooked me up to monitors and had me lie down while they got me all checked in and everything stopped. Ugh. So as soon as we could, we started walking the halls. I would get things going again just to have it all stop. My back and legs were hurting, I was tired, and (above all) FRUSTRATED. Tyler and I went back to our room where he encouraged me to relax and let my body do its thing. I had him say a prayer and then we both decided to lie down and get some sleep while we could. Ty had been up super late the night before and was just getting over being sick so I knew he needed to sleep. I let my body totally relax and was almost out myself when the first contraction came...3 minutes later, another...3 minutes later, another. Hooray! They just kept coming. This was at about 10:30 p.m. I let Tyler sleep for almost an hour before I needed him by my side. He had to be on my right side and could touch me and talk to me in between contractions, but not during. I needed quiet in the room. I get very quiet myself when I'm in labor. I spent the next two and half hours standing next to my bed, hand on the rail, rocking back and forth.

The doctor came in at about midnight and gave me a side hug and then hung out until he was needed. My mom got there about the same time. She's never witnessed a birth aside from her own 5 children and I thought it would be cool for her to be there just as I was pushing my little man out. I really didn't notice anyone in the room aside from Tyler whose thumb I had to squish against the railing during those last contractions. My mom said that everyone was very respectful of what was happening; everyone who came in and out was very quiet. I was getting close - dilated to about a 7 or 8 - when the nurse and doctor started to be concerned about the baby. They were pretty sure that there was a problem with his cord. I was mostly unaware of their concern, aside from them having me change positions 3 times to see if Everett's heart rate would react better. The natural birth process is pretty amazing and so very personal; I was in a different place mentally and so focused on what I needed to do. By this time I barely had time to move in between contractions and couldn't believe they wanted me to lie down and be on my hands and knees. I just wanted to stand. Pretty soon I was at a 10, but there was a little bit of cervix left which the doctor kept trying to massage away because they really wanted him to deliver soon due to his heart variables. I wanted to push, but was encouraged to wait because of that last bit of cervix, so I refrained the best I could. Finally they told me to push. It was more work than with Kelly, but only took 5 or 6 pushes. I broke a blood vessel in my eye from the pushing, actually. No tearing, though!

They knew that there would be a cord around his neck because of his heart variables during the contractions, but what they weren't counting on was it being wrapped 4 times around his little neck! Every professional in the room was amazed; none of them had ever seen that in the delivery room before...only in a cesarean situation. I heard the nurse ask the doctor a while later if the cord was unusually long (which would explain how it could be wrapped so many times but still allow him to descend) and he said, "No, I looked, but it's a normal length." It wasn't until the doctor came to check on us the following day that I realized how worried he had been during the delivery. He told me that because I was so close to delivery by the time he got there, because I'd had two other children, and because I was so in control he decided to allow me to try and deliver normally. He also said that if it had been my first baby there would have been no question - he would have done a cesarean. He indicated that it was somewhat risky for him to let me keep going. I attribute that little miracle to the priesthood blessing I received before delivery and the many prayers that I offered throughout my pregnancy concerning the delivery. He also said that my labor "was a pleasure to watch." What a great doctor. And I had a wonderful nurse who was perfect for me. I feel very blessed! Because of the cord situation, it took a few minutes longer than normal for them to put him on my chest...but oh! I don't think a mother ever forgets that moment with any of her children. I was overcome...still am. Elation and very little sleep followed.

The kids have adjusted quite well. Kelly hasn't really been phased, but Max has been a little emotional. That seems to be leveling out now, though. Today Everett started to cry and Max began running around the room, searching for his pacifier, "Hurry, Mom! Everett's crying. I need his binky! Where is it?!" I think he's going to fit in around here perfectly. We are SO glad to have him here and are not taking for granted a single second...we know how fast time goes.

My mom left today and I cried quite a bit. Those visits with my mom are so very, very special to me. She is amazing with my kids, cooks up a storm, makes sure I sleep and drink water and take care of myself. This morning she woke up early and cleaned my entire house before she left. Oh, I miss her already. My kids were always fed and dressed with their hair done when I woke up. They sang songs and played games and baked all day. Every time she came downstairs with them, she would sit down and they would slide down the stairs on her lap...even while she was on the phone one time!

She put the bubble machine we have on the side of the tub for bath time, which was a hit with Kelly especially.She's a tough act to follow; I hope I don't bore my kids to death now. :) 'Thank you' doesn't cut it, Momma!At his first Dr. appointment (4 days old) he had already gained weight - 7lb 11oz. The doc was very impressed. I produce cream, I tell ya.

So there you have it...a whole lotta information, peppered with several cute pictures. What more can you ask for in a single post?!

On the way to the hospital....

My water broke at 5:30 p.m.! I've been waiting for contractions to start and to get close before we head to the hospital...I think we're going in about 20 minutes or so. I am SO happy and nervous.

Update

Last night I had consistent contractions for 6 hours...and then they stopped.

This morning I lost my mucous plug.

The doctor stripped my membranes at the appointment today.

We are scheduled for induction on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. if I don't have this babe before.

We looked up massage pressure points to induce labor on the internet and my mom put them into practice on me.

We went to the mall where I dropped Mom and kids at the toys and then walked until my feet couldn't take it anymore.

I am praying (often) for a natural childbirth that starts naturally; that's the desire of my heart.

For the next few days I just get to enjoy my momma and watch as she enjoys my kiddos...oh yeah, and pray for this babe to be born.

I feel very peaceful about where we are and how things are going. Nights are a little rough - not getting a good night's sleep and itching like a mad woman - but the days don't feel so bad. Ty wasn't very thrilled with the Sunday induction because we went in thinking he would induce tomorrow (Friday). But I think we both feel good about it now. Now we're back to the waiting and wishing and hoping game for the next few days!

(past) DUE to DELIVER

January 24th - Everett Daniel is "due" to arrive. Maybe we neglected to let him in on this bit of information. I did find out that my doctor won't let me go more than a week past my due date...so he will be here this week no matter what.

Today was a really great day at Church. Tyler and Kelly stayed home sick (that's not the great part), so it was just me and the Maxster. Sacrament meeting held the peace and spirit that I was seeking. I have been quite emotional as of late about still holding Everett on the inside instead of in my arms. Sleep isn't so easy these days, my pregnancy rash is spreading, and I am now worried about being induced and how my body and baby will react to that (pitocin with Max was NOT a great experience). My mom comes on Wednesday and I want to be sure that he is here either before or just after he comes so that she can work her Momma Magic and give me the help I need - and she wants to give - post-baby. The one friend who I knew would cause me to break down if she even looked at me (Tristalene) approached me right after sacrament meeting. She's one of those wonderful friends who knows me really well and always says the right thing. She and I went to the Mother's Lounge where I was able to let the tears flow. Her third babe was late. She knew just what to say and not say.

I keep wondering why I am struggling so much with this - I know that he is coming and it's only a few more days, so why am I SO emotional? Is it because I'm a control freak? Maybe. Is it because I am 9 months pregnant and have hormonal imbalances as a result? I like that option better.

I had Tyler give me a blessing last night...it was oh, so beautiful and spoke directly to my heart and Spirit. The main message I received? Chill out, lady! This is not a big deal. Enjoy your last few days with the two kids you have and the TIME you'll be able to give them. This little guy will be well worth the wait of a few more days. Then we watched a little Church History DVD about the pioneers and I felt pretty silly for complaining about going to my due date (now just one day past) to have a healthy baby boy and then to bring him to a comfortable home. A little perspective does a girl some good!

So today...I'm going to bake with my kids, do my visiting teaching, help Max make the Bishop a Thank You card for the Transformer he gave him yesterday, play with play dough, sit in my massage chair, clean out my oven, finish this week's reading and get ahead on my Book of Mormon homework...and try NOT to wonder when my labor is going to start. :)

Tender Mercies

I was really hoping for Everett's quick arrival (if you couldn't tell from my last post :) )...

and then I got sick. One day last week I felt it coming on, but it never really materialized except for a horrible cough at night. Yesterday, though, it hit me like a mac truck. All I could do was thank Heavenly Father that Everett hadn't been born yet. Literally, that's about all I felt energy for. Tender mercy #1.

My kids played really well all day long, without much help from me. They seemed content to do their thing while I laid around. AND they didn't make a single destructive mess, which, let's be honest, usually happens when Mom isn't being as vigilant and the kids are aware they can get away with it. Tender mercy #2.

Yesterday was Tuesday. Not Monday, not Wednesday, not Thursday. It is the one day sandwiched in there that Ty does not have school or Young Men's. Soon after he walked in the door I was able to slip upstairs for a LONG bath and rest in my bed until dinner was ready. I came down and ate...and that's the most work I had to do all night. Tender mercy #3.

Last night, just before bed, the fog started to lift. I slept without much coughing and only had to wake up once. Kelly came in at 6 a.m. and, miracle of miracles, after a little snuggle let me put her back in bed without a peep and both kids (and myself) slept until 8:00 a.m. That hasn't happened for quite some time - it's been 7:00 a.m. or earlier. Tender mercy #4.

I feel like a new woman today. Still a little stuffy, still a bit of a cough, but I can function and I have energy for the laundry and floor cleaning I wanted to accomplish today. Kelly's nose is running, which I actually think is great because hopefully she'll get it and be done in time to give Everett all of the snuggles and kisses I know she'll want to plant on him when she meets him for the first time. So maybe even that is tender mercy #5.

I am grateful for a Father in Heaven who knows more than I do and who gives me these tender mercies to make my life better than it would be if I were in charge.

Ramblings of a VERY pregnant woman...

Everett has asserted his independence. All of my kids have had Sunday due dates, Everett included. At exactly 39 weeks with Max and Kelly my water broke in the early hours of Sunday morning. No such luck this time around...Sunday has come and gone with little action. I contract all the time, but nothing sustainable. I wonder if I will have contractions that lead me into labor or if my water will break again? It's funny because I feel like babies just come on the weekends so I felt last night that my window for this week had closed until next Sunday. Hopefully I am totally wrong. I am very ready for this little man to be in my arms. I am so excited to meet him and see what he looks like. (If he has no hair then I have totally dispelled the old wive's tale that indigestion = hair.) I am ready for the PUPP (pregnancy rash all over my belly, legs and arms that itches like cu-razy) to be gone. I know that he's coming out sooner than later...I just really want it to be sooner, sooner. Maybe he wants to be born on a Tuesday like his older brother (yep, water broke on a Sunday with Max but he wasn't born until 12:09 a.m. on Tuesday). Time will tell. I just need to come up with things to keep myself busy this week since I really thought I would have a babe to fill my time and a husband at home; shouldn't be hard with two fun kiddos to play with.

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Max has a few things that he says in nearly every prayer. Usually his prayer starts out like this: "We thank thee for this wONDERful ev-u-ning that we could have in the Spirit. And please bless the Spirit that he will be healthy."

At first it just made us smile, but I've thought a lot about this prayer and just how the Spirit (referring to the Holy Ghost) can be "healthy". For the Spirit to be "healthy" in our lives requires work on our part. If we want to have the Spirit with us, then we have to be worthy of it; we have to listen to him. We play an active role in the "health" of the Spirit in our lives. I think about that now every time Max prays - What am I doing to ensure the health of the Spirit in my life?

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Last night I had a good, long cry and prayer. I needed it. * Ty doesn't have to go to school today (hooray!) so we get to have Family Home Evening on Monday this week. * Why do they put the Primary in charge of Priesthood Preview? All we did was turn it over to the Bishopric and Deacons Quorum and then provided refreshments. * Why do coughs linger SO long with me? I had a cold last week for about a day, but now every night brings coughing and really bad sleep as a result. Is there anything I can do to speed along the process of it going away? * Can my kids be any cuter? I love everything about their little faces and their personalities * I am so humbled and grateful to be a mom * I think we'll go to the library today...and maybe make some cookies because, darn it, I totally deserve some sugar right now.

This n' That

Just some randomness to catch up on (backward style)...

I finished Everett's room! Not that I did a ton to it. I ordered a new crib bedding set (argyle and stripes) that I really love; painted some mattes from pink and yellow to brown and blue; bought this huge letter 'E' from JoAnn and painted it to match the bedding set. I'm really happy with the result and can't believe that we are REALLY going to have a baby to put in that crib very soon! I think he'll have to be in my arms for it to really sink in. But we are ready for him!

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It's been really rainy the past few days. Today the kids and I were running errands and Max wanted to pretend that we were going camping and looking for a spot. I thought of the tiny tent we have in the garage and set it up when we got home. We spent several hours in there today; it's been just the distraction and time together we all needed.

still in exercise clothes...lookin' real hot...don't care a bit

Max being a statue outside of the tent

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Last night I put the kids to bed and they had been down for about 1/2 hour without a peep. All of a sudden I hear Kelly yelling, "Mommmyyyyy! Mommmmyyyy!!! My legsies!" I went in and found that her pj pants had ridden up to her knees and she needed my help pulling them down. So, so particular. She can't stand when her sleeves ride up on her arms either. And when I put her in her booster chair for meals - if her shirt rides up in the back she yells, "My body! My body!" until I pull her shirt down in the back. If she wasn't so cute it would be quite annoying.

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We were given a huge bin of hundreds of tiny soldiers last year. I wasn't quite ready to break them out because I envisioned how many times I would be picking them up. However, they were "accidentally" left out where Max saw them (I say "accidentally" because Ty has been wanting to give them to Max for a while and he "happened" to leave them on the steps where Max could see them). But it's been super fun for Max to line up huge armies AND he's been pretty great about picking them up. He spends hours with them sometimes. *sigh* Ty was right.

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During Ty's week off between Christmas and New Years, he planned a Basketball Training Camp for Max. Kelly and I went for moral support. It was very cute to watch. They just may have another camp this weekend.

Stretching out before all of the hard work starts

Pregnancy Dream

Tyler and I were walking in a huge, semi-shallow swimming pool that was in the middle of a professional building with offices all over the place. Suddenly I was aware that I'd given birth and my baby (the chubbiest newborn EVER) went swimming by himself to the side of the pool. We all got out and I felt panicked because our son needed his mouth cleared of something and there wasn't a doctor around. I felt really helpless. Finally this lady walks up to us and we know that she's the doctor. She takes the baby, flops him on a lounge chair, runs her finger through his mouth, then asks me if I like her outfit (she was dressed in a black and white checkered suit). She was on her cell phone the whole time. I was so annoyed that she was asking about her outfit - I had just given birth! They send us on our way, like we just had a doctor's appointment. We got home and I realized I hadn't called my mom to even tell her I was in labor. She was so freaked out that we were home 3 hours after the baby had been born and that they hadn't even checked us out medically. I then went shopping at this small boutique, of course. When I came back my "baby" was almost as tall as Max and looked NOTHING like our family. I had a hard time feeling a connection to him. He was playing with Max and then all of a sudden he was missing. We looked everywhere and found him playing in a shed full of wood in the backyard (which we don't have). We brought him back inside and locked the door, but within minutes he'd figured out how to unlock the door and was back outside playing in the pile of wood. All I could think was 'What are we going to do?! He is only a few hours old and he's already escaping through locked doors. Plus he's HUGE!'

Then I woke up. Go ahead, interpret away!

Sunday Afternoon Family Photo Shoot

Today was momentous for the Fosters.

Maxwell started Primary - the little dude is a Sunbeam. He sang the songs he knew and listened very attentively. A few months ago we started helping Max memorize the Articles of Faith as part of a program that the stake president is doing. The theme and scripture this month center on the 1st Article of Faith. Max was THRILLED to recognize something he knew. His little hand shot in the air and he shouted, "I know that!" He was pleased as punch (there's a phrase I've always wanted to use!) to recite it with all of the big kids. I love being in Primary to see this transition!

Kelly ventured to nursery all on her own. There was a bit of drama with one of the little girls, but she seemed okay to be there sans big brother. Although, she has had a rather emotional day.

We came home from church *a little after 12:00 instead of a little after 4:00...ahhhh, so nice!* and I wanted to take a picture of my Sunbeam

...then I thought that I should take a picture of my 37-week belly

*It's big and beautiful because of the purpose it's serving...in a few weeks it will just be big :)*

...then Kelly decided she needed to pose

*first a few side-shots to look like Mom*

...finally Kelly wanted Dad in on the action.

I guess these are the kinds of wonderful things that happen when you get home from Church and have the rest of the day ahead of you! Have I mentioned that I really like early Church?!

**I had to add this on. Tonight I accidentally brushed Max's teeth with Kelly's toothbrush and toothpaste. It wasn't until I was done that I'd realized it and I told Max about it (he hadn't noticed). He asked why I'd done that and I said, "I don't know, Max, my brain just isn't working right now." A few minutes later he said the family prayer and it went like this, "And please bless Mom that her brain will get well so she won't brush my teeth with Kelly's toothbrush and toothpaste and brush them with my spider man toothbrush..." Then he glanced over at Ty who was struggling with Kelly to get her to kneel and added, "And please bless Dad that he will be able to get Kelly to kneel down for the prayer." Glad I wasn't the only parent whose skills were left wanting and needed some Divine help tonight!**

Never underestimate...

the power of the nesting instinct!

I thought it had passed me by. I thought the fatigue was too powerful and my belly was too big to have any desire to lean over and scrub anything. I was totally wrong.

Tonight the kids took a bath in our bathroom and as the water was draining I saw that the tub could stand a cleaning. That's all it took. Suddenly I was cleaning all of the bathrooms - really cleaning them. Clearing out mostly empty bottles of things that I don't know why I ever save. Scrubbing areas that usually don't get as much attention. I even cleaned the top of the shower heads (and wondered to myself why in the world I don't clean the tops of the shower heads every time I clean the bathroom). Then it was on to many mirrored surfaces all over the house and de-cluttering. Suddenly everything in my house looks like it needs to be cleaned and/or organized.

Right now I want to: sweep and mop all floors in my house, wipe down every surface of my refrigerator - inside and out, clean the ceiling fan in the dining room, do touch-up paint in the hallway, clean out my oven, scrub the kitchen sink with Comet, borrow my friend's Cricket machine to make some vinyl lettering for a few projects I've had in mind, do all of the laundry, bake something, paint my toenails red (which I'm actually going to do right now)...

I made myself sit down to spread the love over the next few weeks. I'll be just 37 weeks tomorrow so I know I've got some time before Everett makes his entrance. I've already done a lot of projects and cleaning this week, so if I go as crazy tonight as I want to then there will be nothing left by, like, tomorrow. Good thing I've got two little mess-makers living with me to keep my nesting satisfied in case I run out of ideas...