Aiden's birth story

I found out early on the morning of the 13th after my amnio that our baby's lungs were mature and we were going to proceed with the induction! I spent the rest of the day vacuuming and mopping and finishing getting ready including getting my bags packed. I got the girls bathed and ready for bed and tried to put them to bed before Aunt Marnae, Grandma and Leslie came over. Unfortunately, the girls felt the electricity and nervousness in the air and didn't want to go to sleep. So, they came back downstairs to watch a movie before they went to bed. I didn't mind just as long as they didn't cry and get upset.

We set off to the hospital for my 9:00 appointment. It was kind of odd to go in at night but not bad at all. I was full from eating all day so I wasn't starving like I usually am and was able to spend one last day with my girls beforehand. I got there and they were busy but they said they had a room for me (thank goodness they built a bunch of new labor and postpartum rooms since the last time I was there). I got sent to one of the brand new rooms and got dressed into the beautiful hospital gown but had to wait a little while for my nurse to finish up with someone else. It ended up taking quite a bit of time just to get their questions asked and my IV going. She checked me to see where we were before she even started pitocin and she said I was a 5-6!! Holy moly!! How was I walking around a 5??? I'm thinking this is going to take no time at all:) I guess you can walk around a 5 and not give birth. Go figure:) He was still really high up though so I'm sure that is why he hadn't come on his own yet.

My contractions started around 10:30 PM. They would come really regularly and then kind of spread out and it kind of continued like that. I think she may have bumped up my pitocin because it started to really hurt at about midnight. That's when I decided to get the epidural. I figured if I was already about a six, why not! The anesthesiologist was really good. He talked me through the whole thing and was pretty quick. The epidural was wonderful. It was probably the best one I've gotten. It wasn't too much or too little. It also helped me to relax so much that I just laid back and took some cat naps. I was so comfortable for quite awhile that I didn't move. I tried to sleep but it's just hard to really sleep with all the noises from the machines and the blood pressure being taken constantly. She checked me after my epidural and I was about a 6-7. I went back and forth from relaxing to trying to watch tv (even though there really wasn't anything on).

My nurse Tory decided to check me again at about 2:00 AM and I was still only a 7. I thought I would have been further along than that. The nurse said he was still really high up and that was probably the problem. He wasn't sitting on the cervix so it wasn't really opening up more than that. I asked if it would help if I sat up to try to get gravity to help me along. She thought it would be worth a try. It was actually really comfortable as well so it was no biggie and I was hoping that it would help him drop down.

Around 3:30 AM, I started having a lot of pressure down there with every contraction. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't letting me rest anymore. The nurse said they were thinking about breaking my water to help it along but he needs to be further down because they don't want the cord to come down before him. The charge nurse was going to come check me and decide if she was going to break it or not since my regular nurse had to go catch another baby. She didn't come for quite awhile and my regular nurse came back before her. She took one look at me and got a little nervous. The pressure down there was getting more and more intense. She said she was going to check me and started typing into the computer. It hurt really bad and then a ton of pressure and then there was this big POP!!! It was so loud that it scared the daylights out of me. My water broke on it's own with some serious intensity!! It was kind of scary because I wasn't expecting it and it was very forceful. Water went everywhere!! I was completely soaked and the pressure intensified. The charge nurse came in right then (nice timing) and I was hurting pretty bad. She said feeling pressure was good and that we won't worry about it unless I have to start breathing through them. I was ok at that point and my sweet nurse got me all cleaned up. She finally checked me and he was tons lower but still a 7 but was an 8 or more during contractions. They told me I better call our moms because it should be within the hour. My nurse asked if I wanted her to call the anesthesiologist to give me an extra dose of my epidural but I didn't want to be so crazy numb like my last one when I was almost done. I would just endure the last hour. I didn't have any feeling anywhere else so I told myself I would be alright!

The excitement level went up knowing that the end was soon and I was going to get to meet my baby boy! It started to feel more painful than just pressure with each contraction. I kept looking at the monitor and they were HUGE contractions. I was thankful that I couldn't feel it in my stomach. I started feeling them in my stomach really bad at the end with both of my girls but this was much, much worse. But I was still thankful that I didn't feel that AND in my stomach. It would have been too much. As it was, I was just trying to make it through since I knew the end was near. I didn't want an extra dose of my epidural since I was at the end but if I knew that it would have taken that pain away for sure instead of making my legs even more numb, I might have gotten it. I just didn't think it would do anything for this kind of pain though. I was now getting to the point of agony. I've never felt pain like that. The contractions in my stomach didn't even compare to that. It was so intense.

She checked me and I was complete and ready. I knew I had to have been. She had me do one tiny push and then said not to do anymore and ran to call the doctor. I called my mom to make sure they were close and then just tried to breathe. I really just wanted to cry. Trav's mom and sister got there followed by my parents. The nurse had me do another push to make sure I was still right there and it hurt so bad. I have never been in so much pain. Dr. Swainston walked in right as I was doing that push. He took one look at me and knew I was miserable. He rushed to get ready and tried to give me some shots down there real quick to try to numb me up.

He asked me to push and I just tried to think about getting him out as fast as I could so the pain would end. I think I only pushed like twice and my mom had to yell at me to stop because his head was out. I didn't even know. I had my eyes closed and was so surprised that he was already coming out. I looked up to see the doctor unwrap the cord from around his neck (it was wrapped around twice). That kind of scared me for a minute but then it was time to push the rest of him out and it hurt so bad that I can't even describe it. It was very cool to feel him actually coming out of me though. They put him on my stomach for just a minute and then they took him over to clean him all up. I don't think I was ever happier to have a baby out. He was by far the most painful. Well, at least at the end. It was my best epidural up until the end. I don't know if it was the varicose veins that made it more painful or if that was where my epidural just decided to stop working. Either way, I was happy that it didn't take long to push him out. Right after he was born I started shaking really bad. This had never happened to me before so it was definitely weird. I shook for quite awhile. My mom got me a blanket and covered me up to try to help it. Aiden gave me a few new experiences with this birth:)

He was born at 4:42 AM which we think is rather funny. Even though it was in the early morning and not the afternoon, he wanted to be born in the 4 o'clock hour just like his sisters. They were born at 4:12 and 4:25:) I watched as they cleaned him up and checked him out. He looked so tiny to me (compared to Jordyn and her huge cheeks) but he ended up being right in the middle weight wise with my girls. They brought him over to me and I fell in love. He's a sweet little boy and we are so happy that he has joined our family.

It's so nice.....

~when I've lost enough of my water weight that I can wear my wedding ring again! It feels like forever since I've been able to wear it.

~when my girls are actually playing nice together and not fighting:) They decided to make a little picnic in the backyard.


~when my baby sleeps for about four hours at a time (which has been like almost every night). I hope it lasts!!

~when my girls are being silly and not crying:) This is how Jordyn puts on her princess crowns.


~that I can walk without tons of pain in my lower pelvis!!

~when the big sisters are so loving to their baby brother.


~when my hubby brings me Cafe Rio home for dinner.

~that I can get out of bed now without feeling like I'm a 100 years old!! :0)

The calm after the storm

I took our sweet baby boy to get circumcised today. Needless to say he was not too happy. He was at one end of the office and I was at the other and I could still hear him scream! Poor baby. It didn't take long though and he was back in my arms again. He was so upset that when I was nursing him, he kept stopping and making these cute noises. It was like he was telling me all about it! Then when he fell asleep, he kept making these moaning noises. He's still sleeping so I think I might need to wake him up so he's not up all night:)

He also got weighed while we were at the doctor's office and he's gained back the weight that he lost. He had lost 7% of his birth weight (about 8 ounces). At the hospital and at his first doctor's appointment, they were trying to get me to give him formula to help supplement until my milk came in. I gave him a bottle at the hospital but I refused when I got him home. I ended up getting my milk in that night anyway and he has gained 8 ounces in 6 days!! He's back up at 7 pounds 13 ounces! My doctor was thrilled. He said that was awesome!! I knew it would be fine. Once my milk comes in, it's like ice cream. He is nursing really well. He only has trouble latching on a little bit and he's better at it during the day than at night. It takes him awhile at night:) I'm not all chapped yet and hoping that it just doesn't happen this time so it's not painful. I guess time will tell.

He also got his first bath last night. His button fell off so we got him all clean before he had to go in today. He wasn't too happy about that either. I don't know of any baby that likes their first bath:) He's such a cutie!!

One week later...

Wow! I just realized this time last week, I was starting to get induced. This week has been exciting, draining, challenging and amazing all at the same time. Aiden has been so good for his mommy. He sleeps a ton and he is even really good at night. He sleeps for about four hours, gets up to eat for about two hours (he marathon nurses) and then sleeps for another four hours. This works perfect for me because it takes me forever to get back to sleep. So the less times I have to get up the better. I've also never had a baby that pooped soooo much!!! I will change him from one poop, get him all dressed only for him to poop again. Little stinker;-) I haven't been peed on though thank goodness. He's only peed out of his diaper twice and he's only soaked what he was wearing and what I had laid him on. He's either really nice to his mommy or I just got used to changing him really fast. He's just a really good boy. I can't complain and I hope it stays this way. My girls on the other hand have been quite the handful!!! They are not adjusting very well at all. It was ok when Trav was home because he could intervene with them but they take advantage of me when I'm by myself and stuck nursing and can't jump up to stop whatever they are doing. I will be nursing and ask Kenna to do something or not do something and I will have to tell her five times before she will listen or she won't listen at all. And Jordyn will just all of a sudden throw a huge screaming fit and throw herself on the floor. She won't even let me try to console her or talk to her which is very frustrating and she just keeps doing it more when you discipline her. It's like it makes her mad so she does it even worse. They also fight with each other a lot! I really don't know what to do with them except hope that it gets better with each day. They both absolutely love their baby brother though and can't give him enough loves and kisses. Kenna wants to hold him all the time. The day we brought him home, she had a t-ball game which my parents were taking her to. At first she thought that they were staying with Aiden so she was showing them where the bottles and binkies were. When she found out that Trav and I were staying, she then told us where everything was even though we haven't given him either one yet (she cannot wait to give him a binky;) It was so cute. She is definitely his second mommy!! I think I'm doing a pretty good job keeping the household going. The house isn't a disaster which is a huge plus because I can't stand it when my house is a mess!! We had sandwiches for dinner tonight but we had roast last night! Some days are better than others. I haven't been doing the girls' hair (why when we aren't going anywhere;) but at least they are dressed! Little by little we are getting there. I just hope the girls get back to their old selves sooner rather than later:-)

Announcing.....

Aiden Miles Millett

born on April 14th at 4:42 a.m.

Last pic of him in my belly!

Checking my baby boy out!

I'm in love!!

7 lbs 13 ounces and 18 inches long

Dr. Swainston! Gotta love his bed head! Glad he didn't take the time to comb his hair or he might have missed it!

Daddy and Aiden

Our beautiful baby boy!

First time meeting his sisters or his second mommy!

Love that brother!

Opening the gifts Aiden got for them:)

Nice to meet you baby brother!

Checking the baby brother out!

Our sweet boy!

Going home outfit!

Getting strapped in to go home!

First car ride home!

The last two pics were from last night:) Birth story to come.....

What I've learned with the latest delivery!!

~Even if you have had two relatively painless deliveries, don't expect them all to be that way!!
~Just because you felt pretty good after the first two, don't expect to not hurt after the third! Ouchies!!
~Don't expect your hospital stay to be nicer because you feel a little more prepared with books and movies (you won't want to do any of it and hospitals just suck)!
~Never expect to get out of the hospital first thing in the morning because something or someone always holds it up!
~Don't think you will ever get any sleep that first night! I swear those nurses sense exactly when you have finally put the baby to sleep all swaddled and finally laid down yourself because they always come in right then to take your stats and your babies'!
~Goodies for the nurses really work!! We got the suite of the postpartum section! My OB was impressed:)
~Don't expect things to go the way you think it will!
~Laboring in the middle of the night is weird but not bad. Just really quiet and not much on tv;)
~You aren't as hungry at night because you have already had dinner! :)
~Your water spontaneously breaking is pretty freaky, scary and much more messy and wet than when they break it for you!
~Your doc is pretty funny when you make him wake up in the middle of the night! And his normally perfect hair is sticking all up on the side:) Glad he didn't take the time to comb it!
~Don't worry about having the cord wrapped around your babies' neck because then it will be...twice!

Aren't I pretty

No, I'm not posting right after giving birth:) I just loved how Makenna would draw me and wanted to document it. I love scheduling my posts! I wonder how she is going to draw me now that I don't have a baby in my belly:)

It's TIME and.....their rooms:)

I just put my "baby" down for her nap. She's been kind of whiny the last couple of days so I decided to rock her and sing to her. She didn't sleep well last night (and neither did I) so she was very tired and cuddly. It was so nice to just cuddle my sweet little girl as her eyes started to fade. I got all teary since I know our family will be changing tonight! She will no longer be the baby. I just hope she knows she will always be my baby:)
I had an amnio this morning. I went into it with some experience from my last pregnancy so I wasn't as nervous. But even with that, it is an intimidating thing to do. I got there early so I would be all ready to go when my doctor came. Problem was he was stuck at another hospital that he was on call at and had some issues there. So I literally laid in that bed at least an hour just waiting. He finally got there and of course our baby boy had to be as stubborn as Jordyn was. He had a hard time finding a pocket and said that this baby takes up a lot of room. Tell me about it doc:) So he finally pics a spot and I just have my eyes closed the whole time. He sticks the needle in and it hurt a lot worse than I remembered. I just keep my eyes closed. Then as he is trying to get the fluid, I all of a sudden felt like crap! It felt like the blood was draining from my face and legs. I got all sweaty and my doctor asked if I was ok. I lied and said I was ok but I just felt hot and light headed. He told me it was a vasovagal response (as he started to fan me) and said he wouldn't go on until I had recovered from it. Well, at least he knew what happened. The nurse got me a wet washcloth for my forehead and neck and felt a lot better. Then he had to do it again on the other side because it didn't work the first time. My kids like to give me a hard time!! I had to have two with Jordyn as well. I just relaxed with the cool washcloths and even though it hurt just as much, at least I didn't have that reaction again. He said he normally doesn't have to do it twice and of course it's my luck that I had to do it twice both times! O-well. He checked that spot with the ultrasound after he was done and said he had a feeling not to go down any further. I guess there was a blood vessel right underneath where he stuck the needle and if he would have punctured it, I would have been on my way to have a c-section all by myself!! Not cool!! I truly believe it's great when you have members of the church as your doctors. I know what his 'feelings' are and am very thankful for them:) Anyway, then I had to get monitored for a bit and then went home. They called before I even made it home that his lungs were good and we were still set for nine tonight!! So after nine long months, we get to meet our son sometime tonight or early tomorrow morning!! I'm so excited to see his cute little face.
And while I'm at it, I also figured I would add pics of their rooms. They aren't totally done. We don't have the pics and names up but at least their clothes and stuff are put together and put away:) This is going to be the baby's room. We painted it green with Jordyn and I thought it would work just fine for a boy too. I just needed to add touches of blue! Obviously we still need to take Jordyn's pink name off the wall but will be replaced with blue letters once they are done! And we will also put up some other pics.

I forgot how tiny those newborn diapers are!!

And this is the girls' room.....

Makenna put the hearts we made for Valentine's day on her wall plus her birthday sign:)

And there is Jordyn's side. She will eventually have her name on that side:) That's the new dresser we bought. I think it looks really nice.

My parents and brother made that beautiful cradle for Makenna's birthday. She loves to put her babies in it. It is the exact same as the one we have used for all of our babies just in miniature:)

And to just add a funny pic! The girls have been doing pretty well together. Some nights they giggle longer than others. This night it was pretty late and this is what I found when I went to check on them that night. Jordyn is half under her bed with all her friends surrounding her:)

Nice look!!

Nice look sweetheart!!!

She had no idea her skirt was like that:)

Joy School Easter party

I had my turn with joy school sooner than I was supposed to since I was due the week I was supposed to teach. And since it got moved up, I got to do our Easter party as well. Since I'm huge with child, I went into it very laid back and it turned out really well. I think the key to dealing with that many kids is to make it low key especially since half of them are only two years old.
I had them start by making a cotton bunny and then bunny sacks to put their eggs in.

Then while Travis (he was on spring break) went and hid the eggs, Melissa sang songs with all the kiddos.

Then it was off to find the eggs. I put jelly beans in 66 eggs so they could all have six eggs to take home.

I don't know if J.J. is finding one in there or just hiding out;)

We then had lunch and the cupcakes that I decorated like Easter bunnies. I guess I didn't take a picture but it's probably a good thing. They looked like cats:) These were my girls' bunny sacks.

And here are their cotton bunnies!! I'm glad the party went well and I'm glad that it was another thing I could cross off my list of things to do before baby comes! I was looking forward to being finished:)

Easter!

I've been looking forward to Easter all month. First of all, I love Easter and secondly, it would mean that I would be meeting my baby pretty soon after. I can't believe it has already come and gone now:)
The Easter bunny knew about the girls liking Princess and the Frog so there were outfits for them along with bubbles and candy.

This is actually a bunny we got a couple of years ago from Grandma that I found out in the garage while cleaning. I literally found it the night before and it was a huge hit. I love it when you can put stuff away and bring it out like it's brand new.

Jordyn's head peaking through the chair. I thought it was a cute pic:)

Kenna checking out her candy stash.

Still checking out the bunny.

Bubbles!! Gotta love morning hair:-)

Still hanging out with bunny:)

We had a nice Easter watching conference, seeing G-ma and G-pa in between sessions and then G-ma and Papa afterwards. I got my birthday dinner which was super yummy and the girls loved playing with their cousins and their new goodies. A good day!