Hyrum's First Christmas

Um, we survived? (I'm blogging this on October 18, 2013)

Christmas Quotes

Having a baby is apparently exhausting...something I had completely forgotten. And adding all the holiday festivities of Thanksgiving, birthdays, and Christmas which are tons of work regardless has left us a little overwhelmed.

We slept under the tree even though it was crazy and we had to turn the tree lights off after the older kids fell asleep so we wouldn't wake Hyrum. I told Taylor it was completely pointless since we were laying in the dark. To which he replied: "We're just keeping traditions alive this year."


On Christmas Eve at dinner...
Me: You guys can't wake us up tomorrow until 8 o clock.
James: How about 7 o clock and I'll give you a dollar.

Hannah Said...

I routinely watch Hannah's babies for her so she can go to young womens and the other day I was keeping an eye on them for her when she asked for the duster and said:

"Part of my job at Young Womens is to dust and if I don't do it I'm out of Young Womens and I have to go to Relief Society."

I really was sad to leave my young women for my new Visiting Teaching calling...can you tell. =]

Grandma Harvey's Puff Balls

The annual Christmas puff balls arrived in the mail today. Love these things! One of the many perks of marrying into the Harvey family.

I Had Forgotten...

When you're right in the middle of it all with babies and toddlers life is just like that...you're feeding and changing and chasing and crazy. You never get enough sleep because your newborn goes to bed at 10 and your nutty 2 year old wakes up at 5 am...for 3 years. You don't get a nap unless you want to wake up to complete destruction. You squeeze in errands and food prep. If you pick up a book everyone piles on your lap. You generally only have one arm to do anything with. You're just right in the middle of everything and running around like a crazy woman and trying to get anything done.

Then all of a sudden they go play in their rooms together. For hours. They dress and toilet themselves. They unload your dishwasher and put away their own laundry. They sit on the couch and read themselves a book for 3 hours. Some start going off to school for several hours a day. They buckle their own seat belts. You have interesting conversations with each other. 

And you can sit and read a book for a couple hours...every day. All the chores get done and the house is spotless. You actually fold the laundry the same day you wash it. You sew and take a nap. When they are off playing at a friend's house you have no errands and the house is clean so you take a bath and read a book. No more meal planning because you can just wander into the kitchen at 5 o clock and decide what you feel like cooking...and then spend an hour cooking it just because you love to cook. You serve your meals in courses because it's fun. After the kids are in bed you putter around and chat with your husband and eat ice cream. You get plenty of sleep and even wake up 30 minutes before they do to read scriptures in the peaceful quiet of the morning, relishing the thought of a new day where you can enjoy time with your precious children and complete your to do list. You feel accomplished and efficient.

Then you decide it would be great fun to have another baby. But after a glimpse of that potential life it's a rude awakening. And you wonder how you ever accomplished anything with a baby AND a two year old. It's a small miracle that you actually did the laundry...that is if you did. Otherwise your kids have to go to school without wearing socks. And you never sleep and you had forgotten how much you resemble a zombie in appearance and temperament. Plus now you have to drive older children to and from school and dance and gymnastics and art class...so people may actually see you so you probably should at least wear clothes and possibly, if you feel really great, brush your hair. And you find yourself saying, "I don't remember any of our other kids doing ____ as a baby." Only to look at their baby books and find out they all did and Hyrum is quite typical. What? James didn't come out of the womb dressing himself? I'm pretty sure Matthias made his own lunch even back then, right? And Hannah slept through the night at 5 weeks. Oh wait, she really did do that. 

But despite all the craziness of it all we are loving our little Hyrum. 

Hymns

Was at the church the other day learning my new calling, VT coordinator. For 3 hours. And Hyrum slept the entire time besides when he woke to drink a bottle. Wonderful boy.

And my other kids had a ball...what's not to love about an empty church house. So many rooms and hallways to explore. I loved going to the church on non Sundays as a kid. They had a blast. At one point it was totally silent and my friend said, "You're kids are just doing so great." To which I responded, "You think, maybe they are destroying the church right now."

About 2 minutes later Hannah walks in the room and says, "The boys are singing hymns."

Hahaha.

They were racing around in the gym and had found the cart of hymn books so they took a couple and started singing Christmas songs...Angels We Have Heard On High and Silent Night. They also told me they attempted hymn #123, but "we didn't know the tune."

Grandma & Grandpa Urie

My parents came out when Hyrum was 10 days old and stayed for just over a week. It was wonderful to have extra hands. They played with the kids, helped with homework, swept my floor (thank you!), did dishes, enabled naps for me, and were really just amazing! Thanks so much! We were so happy to have you here and all the kids had a blast. 

Funny story...in January my mom told me about my dad's conference in San Antonio in November and that she was planning to come with him. And I said, Yes mom definitely come, you'll want to be here in November. To which she responded, "Kristi, that's 10 months away." Just saying mom. Ha. So I didn't even wait until we were pregnant to tell her this time...I'm really bad about that. 

First Week

Meeting Baby Brother

All 4 of these kiddos have been 20 inches whether 7 lbs 5 oz, 9 lbs 11oz or somewhere in between.

Hyrum's Birth

Hyrum was still not born yet on October 30, which was 9 days past my due date so we were getting really anxious. Although by that point I kind of was just accepting the fact that I would be pregnant forever. Tuesday we had an ultra sound and he was doing perfectly fine and looked fat and happy. Had contractions throughout the day, did 7 things that are supposed to start labor including acupuncture...I was desperate!

Wednesday morning got the kids off to school and I went for a 3 mile walk with Jacqui still have contractions here and there. Got ready and dropped Hannah off at dance and told everyone, "I"m having the baby today." To which they laughed and said, does he know? I said, "I'm going home to take castor oil." I was having contractions about 5 minutes apart but not painful. I decided if I was still not in real labor at 11 I would take castor oil.

So at 11 I drank 2 oz and then laid down while Taylor picked up the boys and Hannah. At 12:09 I started having contractions consistently 5 minutes apart that got stronger. By 1:30 we took the kids over to Sandra's because it was hurting enough I didn't want them around. I called the birthing center to tell them I was in labor, but I was just so happy they didn't really believe it was real labor yet. But honestly between contractions even though they were hurting I was just so glad to finally be having Hyrum. Even though it was Halloween, honestly. But at least it was a Wednesday like I wanted. =]

We went back to the house and I tried to lay down while Taylor was trying to send in a paper, but the contractions were getting hard enough that I was already questioning why I was doing this without an epidural? This was the one point I felt like this. The rest of the labor I was so happy with the choice I made. The birthing center was so wonderful compared to the hospital!

We decided at this point to go into the birthing center and got there just after 3. Sasha was the mid wife on call and she didn't really think we would be staying, but let us in and checked...I was at a 3-4. By this time I was also definitely experiencing the effects of the castor oil. I really wanted to get in the tub because I just knew it would be wonderful, but Sasha made me wait. Taylor kept checking the clock which was driving me crazy so I made him take it down. I was chatting a little between contractions so Sasha still didn't think it was really intense. It was though. I was seriously just so glad to be finally giving birth and meeting my baby!

I sat on the birthing ball leaning on the bed for a lot of the contractions. Taylor was rubbing my back and putting pressure low on my back. Then at 5 I was feeling like I need to push which was weird so Sasha checked me again and said I was nearly to a 5. I was so relieved and feeling like I could definitely do just one more hour. Sasha filled the tub and I was so happy to get in. The relief was immediate. It felt lovely and heavenly in the tub. My contractions slowed at that point to every 5-6 minutes again. The time in between was so restful and pain free in the tub. I was able to just relax in the water and really regroup for the next contractions.

Still really felt like I had to push so tried really hard not to. It was really hard to avoiding pushing. At some point Sasha apparently poked her head in and told Taylor she was going to eat dinner...glad I didn't see or I would have chucked something at her. Even Taylor at this point didn't think I would be having Hyrum in an hour because my contractions had gotten farther apart rather than closer together. But they were still really intense and I knew it was coming soon.

Finally I couldn't not push, it was such an intense feeling to push. So Sasha came in and said I was a 6 or 7. Then checked during my next contraction and said I was an 8. She had me do some breathing out puffs during to contractions to keep from pushing which worked for about 3-4 contractions. It was still really hard not to push, but I was managing. And I just kept thinking how it must be almost over if it hurt so much. I was passing blood whenever I pushed so Sasha was worried I would damage my cervix. I felt my water break and kept trying to not push. Finally after 3-4 contractions I was like I can't not push, I can't. Taylor was all, You have to not push. And Sasha said, No she can push, here he comes.

Ha. I was so triumphant. They didn't believe I would have him that quick, but I knew he was almost there. Sasha had me push really slow which was different since I usually just pop them out in one contraction. So between contractions it was just burning and burning but I did not tear at all so it was worth going slow. And even as I was pushing and waiting I was able to think, "it's better to go slow because I won't tear." The fact that I could think so clearly at that point was so totally opposite with my experience with Hannah. I was able to still think logically where with Hannah I was just in agony and out of control by that point.


Two contractions to get his head out, then we waited for the next contraction to push his shoulders out. Which seemed so weird knowing his head was just out there in the water. Crazy. Then his shoulders came out which was harder then his head they were so broad. Then at 6:45 (someone had put the clock back up =]) he was on my chest and so lovely and cute. He didn't cry at all. Just lay there and tried to lift his head. I turned to Taylor and said, "That was amazing." It was so incredible. All of a sudden the pain was over and completely gone and I had my little baby. It was incredible. So different from Hannah's experience were I wanted to just die at that point and it still hurt so much and I was still totally overcome.

Everything after was really cool since it was so chill. The midwives got us settled and then left for a couple hours and we were just able to be alone with Hyrum. We didn't even get a diaper on him for like 3 hours. A few hours later Sasha came in to do all the newborn stuff...eye ointment, Vitamin K, weight, etc. It was all done right there on the bed. We slept for about an hour or so and then were discharged at 1:45 am. It was really crazy getting in our car that we had just parked 11 hours earlier but this time we were taking our baby home.

We got home and relieved Sandra who was so great to watch our kids and get them ready for the Ward Halloween party and take them. She also even took them trick or treating around her neighborhood. We got about 3 hours of sleep before the kids got up. It was pretty funny because we had to take Hyrum's and my vital signs for several days after and that first night we were trying to count Hyrum's breaths for 1 full minute but we fell asleep about 5 times before we finally made it through a full 60 seconds. Haha.
It was so fun when the kids woke up to be like, "Here's the baby." Matthias even got up to go the bathroom right after we got home and so I showed him Hyrum, but I don't think he remembered the next day. 


I prayed so hard for months that I would have the strength and endurance and the experience would be great rather than how awful it was with Hannah. I really think all those contractions for weeks that brought me to a 2 and all the waiting that made me so glad to finally be in labor were an answer to my prayers. As well as the water and the short labor and everything that came together to create this wonderful experience for me. We love our little guy!

Hannah Dances

Hannah started a dance class this fall on Wednesday mornings. She really enjoys the class and likes to show me all the dance moves she has learned. They do ballet and tap and just lots of general dance. Can't believe how grown up Hannah is getting and how cute she is. A good friend of mine teaches out of her house and it's really nearby so I come home while Hannah is gone. And super weird to be in the house all alone. It's kind of eery and very quiet...

Matthias is back in gymnastics once a week for 90 minutes. He still loves to flip and tumble and climb and be crazy. James started a drawing class that he is really enjoying. He is learning a lot about technique and different art styles and tools. He's done some great pictures with water color and pastels. It's fun to see all the kids learning and loving their activities!

Drawing Time

Taylor has started drawing with the boys on Sunday afternoons. The boys really love to draw and do so most days for hours (if they aren't reading) so Taylor will find a tutorial on something one of the three of them wants to learn to draw and they each draw a picture. It's been fun for them and I love seeing the pictures they do. All three of them impress me with their drawing skills. 

(Usually they are at the table, and awake, while they draw.)

Yesterday at church during the a talk the speaker was discussing pride. He told a story of a couple who were in an argument. Long story short the wife had the thought come to her while praying, "Do you want to be right or do you want to be married?" Which the speaker than rephrased as "Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?" Which I think is a great question to remember.

So I then wrote it down to keep as a reminder. Hannah asked what I wrote...

Me: "Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?" 
Hannah: "Right."  

Chicken Lady

Hannah has taken on the chicken duties now that Matthias is at school. Meaning she has to open the coop in the morning. Nothing too difficult, but it's just so cute to watch her tromp out there and open the door. A few weeks ago James saw a large snake in our yard so I've been watching her more closely as she goes out. We know they are there, but once you see one you always get more cautious. 

The other day when she ran out I shouted (not thinking) "Watch out for snakes!" And then laughed my head off the rest of the day at my unintentional joke. Haha. Only fellow Penrose 80 folks will get it, but it was pretty funny. 

I've been having the kids do more chores lately and it's been lovely. They've had bathroom duty for a few months now. They each have 1/3 of the dishwasher that has to be unloaded before school. Obviously beds made and clean rooms get done daily. Honestly in our world of convenience it's sometimes tricky to come up with chores for the kids to do. Now that it gets dark earlier one of the boys can shut the coop at night for the chickens. If only we had a cow...