Random pictures Summer 2014

RJs tractor from 30+ years ago still going strong!

Before VBS and the week before Collins surprise arrival 

Ummm... I walk upstairs and Campbell had played "dressup" with Connor in some of Collins new clothes. You think she needed a sister?!?! Ha!

Love her to pieces! She came downstairs "ready" to go somewhere! Anywhere!

Wow! 3 car seats fit! Ha!

Miss Collins Stevens Moses is here!

Collins arrived Tuesday, July 1st at 1:27pm weighing in at 6lbs 11oz and 19 inches long. She is absolutely perfect and tiny and it's amazing how complete our family feels now. :) Of course, her arrival at 38 weeks was a "surprise" much like my whole pregnancy with her. "Surprise" your pregnant! "Surprise" you have gestational diabetes. "Surprise" you still have morning sickness at 38 weeks. "Surprise" your amnoitic fluid is dangerously low. "Surprise" it's really getting low and we are going to take her this week. oh, and "Surprise" she doesn't have a name yet and it's 37 weeks and they just told me that are taking her this week and I haven't gotten anything monogrammed! ha! So this is more for me to remember but here's how it all went down. We were scheduled for a repeat csection on July 8th at 6:30am. I went in for a routine checkup at 36 weeks (and ultrasound) to check the size of the baby because ofthe gestational diabetes and found out my amnoitic fluid was low. It was 7.9 and normally at 36 weeks its 15. Of course I could tell something was wrong by the nurses face and then the doctors face. They immediately sent me up to my doctor (freaking out by now!!) Of course Dr. Irwin (old school) was not too worried and told me to take it easy. That was on a Tuesday. Friday was my birthday (and 36 weeks preggo) and we headed to the Lake with two of our best family friends. We had a great weekend with all the kids until I got hit by an anchor. Yes, a boating anchor. Someone (cough... my husband) forgot to pull the anchor up after we put it down to swim. The next thing I knew I was watching an 20 pound anchor swing out of the water and around the boat to hit me in the middle of my upper back. I was sitting in the back right side of the boat holding Connor in my arms. So scary. And did I mention how bad it hurt? Knocked the wind out of me. I am still in awe that it didn't kill me. Seriously. God was definitely watching over me, Connor, the baby, etc. I literally had nightmares for weeks and a deep tissue bruise. So blessed that's all. So, with that said. We had to email the dr to see if I needed to go to the ER. I ended up not going and the Dr emailed to check on me all day and night. Monday rolled around and when I told the Dr in an email that I had not felt the baby move much that day (not uncommon for low amnoitic fluid) he said he wanted me in that next morning for an ultrasound. Well, the ultrasound showed that my fluid had dropped again. I wasn't as concerned as the first time because it had only dropped to 7.4 and the nurse said I was mantaining it pretty well. 4% of pregnant women are diagnosed with low amnoitic fluid called Oligohydramnios and I was one of them. I guess Dr Irwin didn't agree. I went in for his appt and was joking around with him about the anchor situation when all of the sudden he got serious really quick (not like him at all). I will never forget him looking at me and saying, "Well, the fluid is getting too low Ashley. It would probably be okay to wait untl 39 weeks but I don't think we should take any chances. The baby isn't protected with this low of fluid, the cord can get wrapped around her neck, she is at a higher risk for infection and stillbirth, etc. How does Thursday sound?" My heart stopped. I held back my tears until I got to the car solo and lost it. What a pregnancy. What a rollercoaster. Is my baby going to be okay? I'm not ready. She doesn't even have a name! Well, after my meltdown I called the nurse and we scheduled the csection for that Tuesday at noon. The day before my sister and parents came in and I was a wreck. I tired to soak in as much loving from Campbell and Connor as possible. I was so worried about them and how they would adjust. They are my whole world and I absolutely love being their mom. Of course I think of everything that could go wrong. Horrible horrible trait of mine. I swear I was having a panic attack and then I got my Bible out and started reading. Isaiah 26:4 was awesome. Spoke right to me. "God, I trust You. I lean on You. You are my everlasting Rock." I was so calm the next day. My mom and RJ went to the hospital with me. I hugged and kissed my big babies that morning and off we went. Of course it's so scary when they tell you "it's time". I hate walking that lonely walk into the OR and having to give RJ and kiss goodbye. The epidural went great and before I knew it RJ was in the OR with me and I could hear sweet Collins crying. Its weird being able to feel them tugging at your insides but not actually feeling it. I was talking with RJ the whole time about how worried I was about the big C's and telling him to make sure and go make sure Collins was ok. They immediately put her on my chest and she was so tiny. Absolutely perfect and worth every.single.second of being sick/rollercoaster pregnancy! It's crazy how it's love at first sight all over again. I also reminded Dr. Irwin to triple tie my tubes (ha!!) and do his best work to make my stomach flat. ha!. He laughed that I was still giving orders from the OR table :) Recovery was rough. The epidural wore off as soon as I got the recovery and they had to switch me to hydromorphine. Well, that was a disaster! I had an allergic reaction to it and couldn't stop vomiting. Anyone that has had a csection knows that its not fun to be vomiting and using those muscles that they just cut!! Talk about torture! I couldn't even cry because it hurt to use my muscles. It's the worst pain in the whole world. Finally a nurse put two and two together that I was having a reacton to the meds and finally stopped it. As in, stopped ALL meds 5 hours out of surgery. I'm not sure what's worse. No meds or vomiting using cut muscles? It was hell. Around 9pm I demanded them to call Dr Irwin to get me some new meds (same meds as they had to give me for Connor when the epi wore off then too). Long story short, we ended up staying an extra day in the hospital. The baby nurses were awesome but my nurses were very uncompassionate. Very disapointing because I had wonderful experiences with the other two pregnancies. Baby girl finally gota middle name too an hour before we left the hospital! RJ and I both had our favorites and still couldn't agree. Well, we finally did (I wont tell you who "won" but I will say the person DID give birth to 3 kids). Her middle name is Stevens after my dad's middle name and holds very special meaning to me. What's funny is Collins is so tiny and reminds me of my great great aunties that were the Stevens sisters and all 4 ft 11 inches tall :) Collins is also a family name which was important to me since Campbell is also a family name. Between the third csection, tubial and a repaired hernia this recovery has definitely been harder than Connors and maybe Campbells. It's taking me longer to start feeling better. In the end though, I would trade a thing for my precious gift from God. She's perfect and so far a good baby. She eats and goes right back to sleep. I'll blog more about that some other time. Thanks for all the prayers!

1st Snowcone of the Summer!

Love these two!!

35 weeks with Baby #3

Hi blog world! Well, I'm 35 weeks. It's been a long pregnancy when you find out around 4 or 5 weeks that you are pregnant. Ha! Anyway, I'm finally feeling good with morning sickness (or my last toilet hugging) being around 33 weeks... Yes, you read that right! This post is more for me to remember this pregnancy and have it documented so if you don't want to read anymore I understand ;)

I've miraculously had the nursery together since around 5 months thanks to my parents. We are using Campbell's round crib, Connor's dresser, I bought a new rocker off of MAT, and bought new bedding (everything is white) from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child. Now it's just getting small details like the changing pad which I finally got in last week. Now is just the waiting game. 

Good news is my gestational diabetes has been under control. My Dr has been so pleased with my numbers that we took me down from 4 blood sugar tests a day to 2 tests (32 wks) to once a day (34 wks). Yay!!! I've only gained about 14 pounds so far (can't believe it bc I gained 25 with Cam, and 30 with Con) and feel so much better this late in the game without the extra weight! This pregnancy isn't over let so I can totally see myself gaining 15 pounds in the last 3 weeks bc I just jinxed myself! 

I'm scheduled for a repeat c-section on Tuesday, July 8th at 6:30am. It's about 3 1/2 weeks away (eek!). I am getting more and more tired these days and have been nesting like crazy. Almost to the point of over doing it. The kids are SO excited to meet their sister especially since my sister just had her little boy, Johnson Wilkes Wise about three weeks ago. 

I'm so ready to hold our third blessing, too. I wish I could say she has a name (if you ask me she does but if you ask RJ she doesn't). We are down to two names and looks like we will be going into Overtime. It will be down to the OR table or leaving the hospital before she gets a name or we agree. Childish, yes. We both are very stubborn and first borns. It's hard when we don't see eye to eye on stuff but then again we are very different in a lot of ways and can usually compromise... Usually :( Pray he gives in! (Ha! I kid, I kid, kind of ;)

On a last note, I can feel the swelling starting. My wedding rings are getting harder and harder to get on and off and I swear my legs looks like they are retaining water. I haven't seen my mom or sister in a couple of weeks so I'm sure they will tell me honestly when I see them. Ha! There's no one like a sister or mother!

Ok, lastly I promise-- Can I just say how much I love my kids?!? Seriously, there are plenty of hard and tiring days but there is nothing in the WORLD I would rather be doing! I love them so much sometimes it hurts. They are at such a fun age I worry (surprise surprise) that they will feel replaced or shorted once the new baby comes. Always a juggling act and mommy guilt galore. Please pray for peace for them and me and that the new baby is welcomed with open arms from all. :)

What a week!

Well, I typed this out the other day and then for some reason it didn't save (probably because I was on the plane). Anyway, debated on sharing this but one of the reasons I blog is to make it a pregnancy book so I guess I need to put everything in it because I will more than likely be stopping it soon.

Last week was rough. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and you would have thought my world ended. I know, I know, it's not but I'm not going to lie-- it felt like it. I didn't have any of the "red flags" so to speak. I wasn't over weight prepregnancy, diabetes does not run in my family, I have not had a stillbirth, I have not had a baby over 9 lbs, and I have exercised and eaten well this pregnancy (only gained 8 pounds so far at 29 Wks). The only thing I did have was my age. I'm over 25. So you can imagine mine (and Dr Irwin's) surprise when I failed the one hour and then failed the three hour also. My results were 65 fasting (needed to be between 60-90), 209 after one hour (needed under 180), 166 after two hours (needed to be under 155), and 154 after three hours (needed to be under 140). 

So what does that mean? Apparently my placenta is releasing hormones that is  blocking insulin from breaking down sugar in my blood. Lovely. I had to meet with a weight management dietician (no joke-- I weigh all of 115lbs currently) and diabetic specialist last week before our trip to Florida. For three hours! It got real, real fast! I also have to take my blood on average at least 4 times a day-- when I wake up and 2 hrs after each meal. As of now I do not need special medication or insulin shots thank God. 

It was definitely a true test of my faith. I know it's not as serious as what others are going thru (death of loved ones, children, parents, cancer) but it shook me to my core I'm not going to lie. I cried like a baby for about 48 hrs straight. My parents jumped in the car (of course) and RJ was awesome. I'm ok now. I just needed a good cry (or 3,000 ha!). 

Complications that I am risk for now are preterm labor, preeclampsia, high blood pressure (which I had at my last visit after I found out), and delivering a baby with low blood sugar. If the baby has low blood sugar than she can have a seizure, go into a coma or have respiratory problems. Also, studies show I am now at a 40-60% greater chance of getting type 2 diabetes sometime in my lifetime (scary!). The good news is my dr said if I maintain a healthy weight, exercise and eat well (the key to fighting it) then my chances go down to 25% bc I wasn't obese to start with. 

Keep us in your prayers please. I know Gods in control and he will protect my sweet baby girl. What a pregnancy this has been! Morning sickness until 24 Wks and now this. We will get threw it but to say I'm not looking forward to pricking my finger all day is an understatement. The second time I did it I had to prick it 7 times before I got enough blood :( anyway, it will all be worth it holding my sweet girl with my other two angels. That's what I keep focusing on :) thanks for the prayers!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAHAM!

Happy happy 1st Birthday to our sweet Baby Graham aka "Baby Jam"! We love you!!