Baby's First Trip to Grandma's

On the weekend of February 3rd, we each had a brother blessing their baby.  One was in Venice and one in Glenwood both at 10 am.  We decided to stay at my parent's house since it'd only be us and them there.  The car ride went well.  We went up on the 2nd after Braxy's basketball game.  We got up there in time for Brax to attend our nephew, Luke's birthday party at the bowling alley.  We took turns going into visit while the other sat in the car with Jenna.  I fed her while Branden went in.  They also had cake and ice cream at their house that night.  On Sunday, we were able to divide up and made it to both blessings and all or part of both dinners.  It was nice to get out of our house and have a break.  It was also nice to be able to visit with family.  It helped to rejuvenate me.  We weren't there long, but it was fun to see everyone and for our siblings to meet our new daughter.

Grandma, Jayden and Jenna

While there I asked my sister-in-law to take a few pictures of Jenna so I could do announcements or just to have them.  She does a great job and I'm thankful that she was willing to help me out!  I'd had a photo shoot the week before, but she knows more about photography than I do.  These are a few I took.

 

 

Baby Girl

Jenna was due on February 9th, 2013.  I hoped she would come early, but was not prepared for how early.  I'd gone in for my regular appointment on Thursday, January 10th.  I'd explained to the doctor a few things that had been happening, so he decided to check me.  I was dilated to a 3 and 90% effaced.  I didn't let that slow me down though.  I got preregistered at the hospital after forgetting and making it to the other end of St. George and turning around and going back.  I went and picked up some wood at Lowe's and did some other shopping.  I also did some cleaning when I got home.  Friday didn't slow me down either. 

The morning of January 12th at 3 am, I woke up with pain in my stomach.  I couldn't sleep or relax so I got in the bath tub.  I laid on the couch for a while, but that didn't help.  I tried to go back in my room to relax, but that didn't help either.  I got in the bath tub again, but still no help.  I decided to start timing contractions about 6 am.  They were about 9 minutes apart so I started to get a little concerned.  They started getting closer and closer.  Once they hit about 5 minutes apart, we contacted our friends, the Ruesches, to take Brax.  We'd discussed it with them earlier that week.  On our way to drop Brax off they were only 4 minutes apart.  I didn't want to go to the hospital because I didn't believe it was happening and didn't want to be sent home.  We got to the hospital around 10:00 am.  The nurses were really worried about me having a baby at 36 weeks.  They all had concerned looks on their faces, but admitted me and got things going.  They checked me and I was dilated to a 3 still according to the nurse.  They watched the monitors and contractions weren't showing up so they didn't believe I was having them.  After an hour she came back and I was dilated to a 4.  So, they had no choice but to let me stay.  They moved me into a labor and delivery room.  My water hadn't broken and no Strep B test results were showing.  I'd had the test done on Thursday, but they didn't have anything back yet.  They had to treat me as though my results were positive, which meant they had to give me two bags of penicillin at approximately 4 hours each.  The nurse doing my IVs went to put in the penicillin and collapsed two veins in my hands.  It hurt like crazy.  She finally got it in my arm.  Come to find out, if you don't warm up penicillin before putting it in through an IV it'll burn your skin.  It definitely did.  It hurt so bad.  My hand didn't stop hurting for a week.  Anyway, I'd also been throwing up with almost every contraction so I was dehydrated and they had to bring in the blood lab workers to finish doing my blood samples.  My contractions still weren't showing up, but I could feel them.  They found out that Jenna was posterior (facing backwards).  They kept trying to turn her and she'd turn sideways.  She kept going backwards and sideways, but not the right way.  About 3 pm I decided I'd had enough and didn't want to sit and wait for more penicillin.  They called my doctor and had him come break my water.   After that, things started to progress a little more quickly.  We had called our parents, so my mom, dad, sister Cara, mother-in-law and niece Brinley all showed up and got to hang out with us.  My contractions started to get really hard around 5:00 so I decided I was going to get an epidural.  It helped relax me and my family decided to go out to eat.  They had picked up Brax on their way into town so they took him with them to Five Guys.  My mom and sister were worried they'd miss the delivery so they rushed.  Around 6:30 I told them I felt like I needed to push.  By then everyone was back.  They checked me and sure enough it was time to push.  They got the doctor and we were ready to go.  It didn't take long and it was easy pushing.  She wasn't very big either.  At 6:44 pm Jenna was born weighing in at 5 lbs. 9 oz. and was 17.5 inches long.  Branden cut the umbilical cord and they cleaned her up a little and handed her to me.  They cleaned her up more after that and weighed her then handed her back to me.  I just cried when she was born.  The Spirit in the room was so amazing.  My mom, Cara, and MaeBeth along with Branden were all witnesses to this little miracle coming into the world.  They brought Brax, my dad, and Brin back in after a while.  Branden held her second and then Brax.  Branden let everyone else hold her and then we tried nursing unsuccessfully.  MaeBeth headed home and my mom, Cara, and dad went shopping for a minute and then were heading home.  Nothing prepared me for what happened next.

 The nurses noticed Jenna shivering so they checked her temperature and blood sugar levels.  Her sugar levels didn't read on their instant machine so they got a nurse in to check it through a vein.  It still didn't show up and her temp wasn't what it should've been.  They told me they were taking her down to the NICU for a little while.  I sent Branden to be with her and Brax stayed with me.  They then moved me to a recovery room.  I'd texted my mom and told her that Jenna was in the NICU so they rushed back.  My youngest sister was in the NICU so my mom got worried and they came back.  They helped get me and all my stuff up to my new room.  I was eerily calm and kept telling my mom and sister it'd all be okay.  At about 10:30 pm, three hours after taking my baby from me, I still hadn't seen her nor Branden.  I texted Branden and he said he was on his way up.  He came up and told me all was okay.  I tried earlier to get up to go but nearly passed out so they made me wait.  About 11 pm I was finally able to get up with some help so they got me into a wheelchair and I headed down with Branden and Brax to see my baby girl.  They told me she'd be down there for a day.  They'd wake me up when Jenna was awake, but she still wouldn't nurse.  The next day she still wouldn't eat so they inserted a feeding tube into her nose.  She also had her sugar levels tested every few hours so she had lots of pokes in her poor feet.  I was then told that my baby could be in the NICU for a week or two.  We went from a few hours, to a few days to a week or two.  Wow, it was definitely an emotional roller coaster.  At noon on Sunday, I checked out of the hospital because I couldn't feed Jenna and wanted a good night's rest.  I came home, at lunch, and headed back to the hospital.  I spent time with my whole family in the NICU and headed back home for the night.  I slept for 7 hours and couldn't wait to get to the hospital Monday morning, but had to wait for Branden to get ready and he wasn't getting ready fast enough.  In the mean time I was pumping so they'd mix it in with her formula to give in her feeding tube.  Monday was kind of miraculous because Jenna started nursing that afternoon.  After she nursed well for four feedings they told me I could stay in the hospital for the night to continue on our progress.  I came home and got my stuff ready for the night and spend time with Brax until he went to bed.  I headed back to the hospital at 9 pm for the night.  They called me through the night to come feed her and it was successful.  They also had me start feeding her formula in a bottle at my request.  I didn't want her to stay in the hospital because she wouldn't nurse if she'd take a bottle.  The next morning the lactation specialist came in to make sure she was nursing and the nurse.  That feeding didn't go so well so neither one believed we'd made progress and said she'd be there a few more days.  Every feeding after that went well and the nurse and lactation specialist both saw that.  That night we were able to room in together, meaning she was in my room with me and I was in charge of her full care.  I had to call the nurse every time she ate or I changed her diaper, but it worked.  Since the night went well, we were able to bring our little girl home on Wednesday, January 16th.  The whole NICU process was such an emotional roller coaster that I wouldn't wish on anyone, but I am glad my daughter got the help she needed.  When we checked her out of the hospital she weighed 5 lbs. 2 oz.

My unicorn baby.  The IVs didn't stay well in her hands and her hands swelled so they put it in her head.

I was so exhausted because she woke up every 2 hours in the night.  We were so ready to go home!

Her first night at home!

At her first appointment, two days after leaving the hospital, she still weighed 5 lbs. 2 oz. and was 18 inches long.  At her two week appointment she weighed 6 lbs. 1.5 oz. and was 18.5 inches long.  She is growing so fast and it's crazy to look at pictures of her when she was born.  She is still tiny, but has grown a lot.  She's a very determined little girl and we are blessed to have her in our lives.

Her two week visit!

Getting Ready for Baby Girl

Brax has been very excited about having a sister.  On the 2nd Branden decided to get a bunch of things done around the house that were on his to do list.  He worked on the car and replaced cables in the couch that were broken and we'd picked up while in Richfield.  Following that Brax decided that they had one more job that absolutely had to be done.  He told Branden that they had to set up the changing table in the baby's room.  He was so excited!  I didn't know where they'd disappeared and all of a sudden I hear, "Mom, come check this out!"  I went and watched as they got it put together.  Brax was so proud when they got done.  He couldn't wait to put diapers and wipes on the shelves.  What a good boy we have!

I started the nesting phase this week.  All I want to do is clean.  On Monday I cleaned for hours and that night I started having contractions and only slept for 2 hours.  Tuesday I was so sick and having contractions that I spent the day in bed.  Today I decided to do a job, then take a break.  I'll do another job and take a break.  I'm currently taking a break, but need to get back to work.  I don't get things done as quickly as I want, but I don't want to be in bed tomorrow.  I head back to the doctor tomorrow and every week until she gets here!

Christmas 2012

Brax and baby cousin Jayden

Brax and baby cousin Tate

Brax and Brev decided to make snowmen in one of our first trips.

Our drive home on Christmas Eve.

We decided as a family that we were going to spend Christmas at home.  It was very different because we'd never done that before.  Branden was up at 6 and insisted that I get up and get ready.  Braxten didn't get up until just before 8 am.  It was a fun morning.  I made breakfast casserole for my guys, because that's what they requested.  We opened presents and then ate breakfast.

This year I cut back on all the presents, but it was still a nice day.  Braxten received a Nintendo DS XL and two model Tonka vehicles from Santa.  He also got two remote control cars and a remote control dune buggy.  Roller blades, a beanie, and DS games rounded out his gifts.  Branden received a blessing oil vile and games.  I got a breast pump and pads, also some earrings.  As a couple we received some movies, popcorn, candy, a Christmas book, calendar and a few other things I can't think of right now.  We had a lot of fun.  Also, we had a special gift for Braxten.  We decided that we'd give him the gift of finding out what gender his sibling is.  He was so excited and was bouncing off the walls.  We found out IT'S A GIRL!  He was so excited because that's what he really wanted.

After breakfast I started working on our evening meal.  While trying to get my stuffing made for that night I fell in the kitchen.  I ended up in the splits and it has sent me in pain since then.  I'm not sure if I stretched myself out or pulled something.  Oh well!  We had hamburgers for lunch and relaxed through the afternoon.  For dinner I made stuffing, potatoes, and turkey.  It turned out quite well.

 Due to weather conditions we spent a few more days at home.  We did a favor for my dad on the 26th and had a lazy day.  On the 27th Branden went to work and I headed to the doctor with Braxten.  The doctor had Brax find the heart beat.  I measured a few days early.  It was fun to have Brax with me for my appointment.

On the 28th we headed back to Venice/Glenwood for the final time before the baby is born.  We played games and visited.  On the 29th we had the Spencer family Christmas party.  Brax and I went and had fun visiting with cousins that I hadn't seen in a while.  We went to church in Venice and I kept throwing up.  It was not the best church experience.  On New Year's Eve we headed up to Jeremy and Katie's for dinner.  We had Cafe Rio burritoes and little smokies.  We also had a really good dessert that included Golden Grahams, caramel popcorn, chocolate, and I can't remember what else.  I was addicted!  Branden headed over to hang out with some friends.  I'd been throwing up and not feeling well so I headed back to my parents.  That night I hung out with my mom and the grandkids.  My dad was sick so he went to bed.  Mother Goose came that night and brought Brax another DS game and us some more game boards to add to our Ticket to Ride collection.  That afternoon we headed over to the Anderson's for lunch and then back home.  It was so nice to see everyone over a three week period, but I was sure ready to be in my own home again.

The Wedding

On the 14th of December we headed up to the Mount Timpanogus Temple to go through the with Shanelle for her first time.  It was nice to be together with my three siblings and parents.  It was a very nice time.  We then headed to my parents for the night.

The 15th was the open house/reception day.  I got up and did my hair.  I decided to do it curly and it only took me 1.5 hours to get it how I wanted it.  After getting ready we headed over to the Venice Schoolhouse to finish preparing.  We spent a while over there helping my mom with table cloths and other final touches that were necessary.  The Oldroyd side of Branden's family was having their Christmas party that afternoon so we headed to Glenwood.  We hung out for a while and then headed back to Venice to change our clothes and get ready for family pictures.  We stayed after that to set out desserts and whatever else needed to be done.  The night was very nice.  Our nephew Luke ended up in Instacare due to a bad case of strep throat so Jeremy, Katie, Luke, and Tate weren't able to come and hang out with us.  You have to do what is necessary though.  Our cousin, Kory, had his reception that night also in the Venice Church so we took turns heading over to congratulate him and his future bride as well.

 On the 16th we headed back home for a few days.  Shanelle and Jordan were married on the 19th so we headed to Manti.  It was a snowy morning, even in Hurricane.  It was a rough drive due to snow covered roads, but we made it with time to spare.  The sealing ceremony was very nice.  My three siblings and spouses with our parents were all together again.  There was a lot of family there also.  Branden and Brax volunteered to help the photographers so my mom and I walked around watching as they took pictures.  We then headed over to the luncheon.  The newlyweds then headed out for their honeymoon and we headed to Glenwood.  I was done traveling for a little so we stayed with Branden's parents until Christmas Eve.