So Thankful

Thanksgiving is over and Dallin is 2 weeks old. It really seems strange. I have spent most of the last year waiting for Thanksgiving. There are so many things to be thankful for this year. First is the beautiful boy pictured here. I don't think I could have asked for anything more wonderful. He is such a good baby. He doesn't cry much, and is easily made happy again. he still sleeps most of the time, but is starting to spend some time awake during the day. Everyone loves him, Spencer and Allie can't help but give him hundreds of kisses and hugs. Allie is often telling me how much she loves "our baby". We are settling into a new routine with our new kind of family. I couldn't have dreamed how much work 3 is. with 2 older kids that rarely slow down, and a baby waking up all night, there doesn't seem to be a lot of sleep happening for me, but somehow we are making it happen. I always couldn't wait to get back into life after the other two, but now I am somewhat terrified to be on my own and "recovered". There isn't time to recover!

I am thankful for so many other things too. Sam has a wonderful job, where he is comfortable, and happy. He comes home glad to see us, and with a bounce in his step rather than dragging through the door. Spencer is doing wonderfully in school. He loves his class and teacher. He scored very well on the GATE placement test, so there should be some changes in his schooling soon. Allie is a joy. She is still getting used to being the "big sister" and not the baby. She is constantly reminding me that she is little, not big. But I am so happy to have her. We are all healthy, happy, and have all the things we need. We have the gospel, and each other. What a wonderful family I have!!

Dallin's Smilebox

Here's a Smilebox that Grandma Bishop made with pictures of Dallin in the NICU.

Dallin's Smilebox

Happy Birthday!!

It is official.Dallin Mckay was born on Saturday November 14th at about 2:40 in the afternoon. He was 8lbs. 13oz. and 22 inches long. I have to say that he really doesn't seem that big. He is such a tiny little person who insists on being curled in a ball! I have to say I think he is the most beautiful baby! He has wonderful skin, and a perfect round head. The birth went wonderfully. IT took some time for the pitocin to work, but once it got going things picked up fast. I only pushed through about 5 contractions. Dallin had the cord wrapped around his neck, and he came out very blue. We had some of the NICU staff there because there was muconium in the fluid when it was broken. They were able to pink him up pretty quick, and we were glad for that! He didn't ever really cry, which was a little troubling, he just made little squeaks. The nurse said he sounded like a mouse. We were so happy to finally meet him!!

There was one problem, his blood sugar was very low, and it seemed like we just couldn't get it up. We tried to feed him and get more sugar into him, but he was so sleepy that he couldn't stay awake long enough to fill his tummy. We tried formula (yuck!) and that was a little better because you can just shove it into his mouth and let it drip down his throat, but in the end, we had to have his sent down to NICU for an IV with some fluids and monitor his sugar and other vitals. After almost 24 hours of walking back and forth from the 8th floor to the 2nd to feed the baby, (who is a PRO nurser) every 2 hours, we were able to bring him back upstairs to be monitored for a few hours and then we were able to come home.

We are so happy to have him, and be able to get some much needed rest here at home. He is so precious!!

Tomorrow is the day

I am so thrilled to know that there is finally going to be an end to all this madness. Tomorrow morning bright and early (or dark and early) we will be heading to the hospital to have this baby induced. It is a funny thing really. I have been thinking about this pregnancy compared to the others and I can't decide if it was truly harder or easier. It was just so much different. The others made me so sick. People would try to tell me about the "wonders of pregnancy", and I mostly just wanted to curl into a hole and die. Life is so much longer with a constant nauseous stomach. The difference then was that I had either none, or one child who would nap, and it was easier to just let him play on the floor while I rested on the couch, and nap when he did. This time however, no such luck. I have a 6-year-old to chase, entertain, and deliver to things. I have a 3-year-old who only naps about half the time, and not at all the whole summer. Luckily I haven't had more than the first couple months of nausea that most women experience, but I have a new development of migraine headaches, every day. Life is too busy to slow down much, especially with two expert mess makers. It is just a whole different ball game! I was really hoping to experience the rush of going into labor naturally this time. Running off to the hospital, and letting my body just do it's job. It was just not to be. I feel like I have been in s l o w labor for the last two weeks. I have been having lots of contractions, and I know things are moving, but just not fast enough to be actually "time". Between the headaches, late pregnancy nausea/heartburn, nerve pain, and all the other joys of late pregnancy, I am just about ready to just give up. I was ecstatic when the doctor asked if I would like to be induced. What better news is there that there is a definite end to all this, and earlier than expected to boot!? It is wonderful! Today though, I am getting nervous. There is so much that could go wrong, and so much that could happen tomorrow. Pitocin is not fun, but effective, hopefully. I don't want to end up with another c-section and the long hard recovery that comes with it. Then there is the fact that I will bring a new baby home in just a few days, that will be another being totally dependent on me. Am I going to be able to do this? And then alone in another week? There is so much to question myself about. There is also the wonderful things to look forward to. I can't wait to have that tiny warm baby in my arms, and know that he loves me completely and unconditionally. I love the smell and sound, and softness of a new baby. Even their little cry is precious. I think that is what God has done for mothers. He has instilled in us that love for our children that no one else has, so that we can have the strength to do what needs to be done. How comforting to know that there is a plan in all things. Wish me luck tomorrow, and remember us in your prayers!

To the hospital and home

So, today was a little exciting and disappointing, sort of. I have been feeling not so great, and having contractions on and off for the last few days. This morning we went for a walk to help loosen things up, and my contractions were coming hard, and about every 4 minutes. We packed a bag, found a babysitter, and were off to the hospital. We checked in, were monitored for about an hour, then the nurse got around to checking my cervix, and (drum roll) nothing. I thought for sure. There is a little blood, and I am still having contractions, but to no avail. I have been promised to be induced on Saturday if this little man doesn't make his grand entrance before then, but I would really like him to come so we can just get this over with! Sam was so wonderful to just laugh about having a practice run. What a guy! I think I have the best husband in the whole world. So sorry to everyone who is missing out!!

I FOUND MY CAMERA!!!

This is a glorious day! I am so happy to have my camera! I thought I'd post a few pictures of events that I missed!



I made Allie some new bows today!



Spencer and Grandma collecting Jellyfish!



more collecting



Spencer's Pirate booty cake. AARRR!!



Purple Potatoes and Sausage. So colorful and delicious!!