Lizzy is Here!!

After a long labor, she is finally here, and she is beautiful!

We went to the hospital at 1am for my induction, but they didn't actually start me until 2:30am. Let's just say my body wasn't ready, and she could have stayed in another week. She had a lot of vernix on her when she came out. But with my history and us all being on pins and needles including my doctor...it was a good thing she was delivered.

We had a little scare. Around 2:30pm my doctor came in to break my water. After he left, Lizzy's little heart rate went down. I could hear it, then noticed that my nurse looked concerned. She turned me to my other side hoping for a change, but it then stopped then came back slow. I started panicking and crying, not wanting something to happen to this little one. She called my doctor STAT then put me on oxygen. He came running back and put a fetal monitor on Lizzy's head. Her heart rate came back up and was stabilized. The oxygen remained for the rest of labor, just to make sure Lizzy was getting enough.


Here I am sporting the cute oxygen mask.

It took so long for me to dilate. They would come check me and I wouldn't have changed or have only gone up one centimeter. It was getting a little frustrated. I must say how grateful I was for the epidural. I couldn't have stood laying on the bed in that much pain for that long. Then we found out she was posterior, so I would have had back labor, which I hear is horrible. My back was very sore after the epidural had worn off.

When I got to an 8, my doctor said it was time to get her delivered, so he had me start pushing to try and get me to a 10, but my body still wouldn't cooperate. He left me to labor for a little longer. My nurse left the room as well, saying that when I felt pressure to let her know. About 15 minutes later the pressure came...the nurse was called...the doctor was called...and pushing began. She still didn't come. Then my doctor could feel that she was face up. He turned her and in one push she was out. She came into this world at 3:54pm, only 15 hours after being admitted to the hospital...ha! ha! ha! She had the cord wrapped around her neck twice and her arm once, but she was fine.


Here she is soon after delivery.


Weighing in at 7lbs. 8oz (our biggest baby) and 20 1/2 inches long.


Me looking a little worn out. It truly was a long day.


First bath


Look at those fat chops!


All prettied up. The pictures are mostly in black and white because the picture taking was left up to me and Brian. We had the camera on the wrong setting. I am so grateful for my girls when it comes to picture taking.


With her big sister, Maddie


Me and Kaylie


Me with my little Clara, who isn't quite sure what to think about this new little baby.

In color (the girls had showed up to save their parents)


With her big brother, Wes


Abby was so excited to meet Lizzy.


My two babies

I am so grateful that she is safely here. I am so thankful for such a wonderful doctor who has helped me through the last 2 1/2 years, through a Placenta Previa, the loss of Nicolas, two miscarriages and finally a happy ending. Later in the evening he came to visit us in our room and told us that the heart rate dropping and the cord around her neck are things that happen, but we were just all on edge with what had happened in the past. I was also grateful for the tender mercy of the Lord. I prayed that I would be able to have the nurse that was with me through the last hospital stays. How happy I was to see her that day. She was able to be with me through the whole thing. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have these sweet little babies in our home. The Lord has truly blessed our family and taught us a lot in the process.

No Baby Yet

This little one has decided she doesn't want to come into this crazy world...and frankly, I don't blame her. My doctor has been having me come in for monitoring twice a week for the last 3-4 weeks. Needless to say, he just wants everything to turn out okay this time. He is a great doctor. All is well with little Lizzy, I have had no need for concern. He won't let me go past 41 weeks, which means he has scheduled me for an induction...AT 1AM MONDAY MORNING! Who has ever heard of being scheduled that early? I am praying very hard that she decides to come on her own, so I don't have to have the Pitocin nor go in at that ghastly hour.

Other than that, I feel great, no contractions, no aches or pains. Sometimes I still forget that I am pregnant, except when I bend over or try to fit betweeen something that is a little too tight. I am being patient, and have handed it over to the Lord. He knows my wishes, but He also knows what is best for me and the baby. We will just see what happens. I will post after the sweet little thing arrives.

Only 5 1/2 Weeks Left

I can't even believe it....the time has flown incredibly. I have never had a pregnancy go by so quickly. I am sure most of it is due to little Clara keeping me so busy, and I am grateful for that.

I had my prenatal yesterday and my doctor decided to have me monitored once a week. I am sure it is just to keep me calm. I have to be hooked up to the fetal monitor for 20-30 minutes and then a quick ultrasound to make sure that there is enough amniotic fluid. Little Lizzy was a trooper; heart beat strong, plenty of fluid, cord in the right place. It will be fun to get to see her each week until she gets there. I am just happy that everything looks good. She is head down, but doctor said that it really doesn't matter at this point because babies continue to move around a lot. I just hope she stays that way.

We just moved Clara into Wesley's room, making room for another crib in our room. Our little house seems to be getting smaller and smaller. Every nook and cranny is filled, but what fun this will be. I also added more frames up on the wall for Clara and Lizzy. I even put Lizzy's latest ultrasound in her frame. I just keep looking up at the wall and thinking about all these little treasures that Brian and I have. I feel so very blessed. Even though the path has been hard at times, I see the Lord's wisdom and am ever so grateful for His love and guidance through these last 2 1/2 years.

SHE IS OURS!!!

Today the judge granted our adoption, and she is now legally Clara Paulina Jones. It has been the hardest 7 months for me, but so totally worth it. I was so nervous going in this morning, but it ended up being quick and painless...only about 10 minutes and I didn't have to answer but probably two questions. The judge could see that Clara was in good health and was bonding well with her siblings. He found it in the best interest to grant the adoption.

I think Clara even knew that what had happened today was special. She was in such a good mood and so very happy. She was on her best behavior in the courtroom.

I can't express the weight that has been taken off my shoulders. Now we have the fun stuff to look forward to. We are hoping to have her sealed to us on February 5th and blessed on the 6th. Then in approximately 7 weeks we have another little blessed package coming to our home. Things are looking wonderful, and I can't even express how happy we are and how blessed we feel.

I forgot to mention that we have a name for our newest addition to be. Brian likes to surprise the kids with the name by putting it in their stocking at Christmas. He did this with Nicolas as well. The name he picked out is Elizabeth Rae, and we will call her "Lizzy". I love it. We had another ultrasound a couple of weeks ago, and I must say that she resembles Nicolas quite a bit. Especially the cute little button nose. Looking so forward to meeting her!


It was an early morning, but they were happy to be there to witness this happy event.

Here we are with the judge who couldn't have made us happier!


Sitting in the Plaintiff seats.


28 Weeks



32 Weeks


Me and my two babies.

Update

Wow, it has been over a month since I have written anything. I am now 26 weeks pregnant, and I must say that this pregnancy is going incredibly fast. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and realized that it was 2 years ago that night that I was rushed to the hospital because of my placenta previa. Who would have thought that two years later I would be holding a sweet little baby girl and expecting another one. How blessed can one be! Everything is good. The baby is healthy and moving often. It is kind of a funny feeling when I have Clara laying on my stomach kicking, while the little one in my womb is kicking as well. I hope that they will be the best of buds.

Brian has been traveling like crazy. It started when I left for Wyoming back in June and really hasn't let up. He has been gone away from us more then he is at home. I try to not complain, because with this economy we are living in, it is a blessing he has a job. So we enjoy every minute that he is at home.

Thanksgiving will be spent at home this year...as usual. I really like it that way, I am quite the home body. I think we will have about 21 here in our little home which will be wonderful!

Just for fun, I thought I would post some pictures of my sweet kids. Kaylie is really taking a liking to photography, so she is always snapping someone's picture. I think she does a great job. Here are just some of the ones she has taken of her siblings.

My up and coming photographer, Kaylie, with little Clara


My darling little preteen, Madeline, sporting her braces that have brought her nothing but pain. What we do for straight teeth!


My handsome Wesley.


My sweet Abigail.


Oh My!!


This is Clara on Halloween. We didn't have a costume for her, but at the last minute remembered we had some Build A Bear outfits that just might work. Here she is...our little cheerleader!

It's A Girl!

I had my 20 week ultrasound today and was surprised to find out that we are having a little girl. I have never felt girl this pregnancy, just boy. I had his name picked out and was calling the baby a "he". Sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways. I am happy with whatever we get, I just was so hoping for a little brother for Wesley, because he has so wanted one. But the Lord knows best.

She is perfect and everything looks good, which makes me truly happy. I hadn't even taken a thought to girl names, so I will be working on that. It will be fun for Clara to have a sister so close in age. I am just curious how we are going to get 5 girls in one room. Do they make triple decker bunk beds?

Double Rainbow

My friend reminded me when I read her blog about the title of rainbow baby. The baby that comes after your angel baby is called a rainbow baby. I got to thinking about it, and thought that I get a double rainbow. Clara came to us and soon after we found out we were expecting. What a sweet blessing that is.

I went into the doctors yesterday. Everytime it gets close to an appointment, it seems that I get anxiety. I start getting nervous that they won't find a heartbeat. Between losing Nicolas and having two miscarriages after, I really struggle each time that they put that doppler to my stomach. The first time I went in to the doctors, he had to talk me into having the doppler. I just wanted to wait until I felt the baby move, then I would know that it had a heartbeat. He said, "Elisha, if you are this big, there is a live baby growing in there." I consented and then allowed an ultrasound to be performed. The sound of the heartbeat is one of the most beautiful sounds I could ever hear. Yesterday it was strong and perfect. He decided to scan me because he thought I felt a little smaller than 18 weeks. It seemed like forever until they finally got me into the ultrasound room. While waiting, I had all kinds of thoughts going through my head, just trying to imagine why my baby wasn't growing. When it finally came time to scan me, everything was well, I was just carrying this little one really low. I am 18 weeks and measured right on.

Besides having a doctors appointment yesterday, I also had a hearing in the morning with my lawyer and the judge here. My lawyer was trying to have the 6 months that an adoption usually takes waived, but the judge said no. I was disappointed, hoping that it would all be over. As I was on the phone with them, all the ugliness of what I had to go through in Wyoming, came back. Doubts started coming to my mind, wondering if she would still be ours. Thinking how horrible it would be if they took her away from us. My lawyer is confident and told me not to worry. I am really trying not to. I am hoping that the adoption will be finalized by Dec. 16th and we will be able to go through the temple on the 18th...my birthday. That would be the best birthday present ever. It is all in the Lord's hands. All has worked out so far, I just need to continue to have faith.

Needless to say, yesterday was quite an eventful day.

Double the Blessings

As you can see from the ticker, we are expecting. About two weeks into the adoption, I found out. I am now 15 weeks and everything looks good. We are very excited, but a little overwhelmed.

Clara is doing so well and finally gaining some weight. She is a really good baby.