We went to our local park a few days ago......
....we ran around
Evangeline dozed...... 
....we posed
....Eli sat in water....lots of fun had by all. :)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
park
We went to our local park a few days ago......
....we ran aroundEvangeline dozed...... ....we posed ....Eli sat in water....lots of fun had by all. :)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
birth
First, if you want to see what my birth story with Eli was like, click here.....it is very different than with Evie. :)
Wednesday, May 6th, I woke up and thought "We're having a baby today!!!" I did not think I would be able to tell the time or day, but as they say, we plan and God laughs.
After kissing Eli goodbye, we made our way to Paoli Hospital. When we were about 10 minutes away, I remembered I was supposed to call to see if they could still take me. I called from the road and they said that they got busy last night and to call back in an hour. So we made our way home again and waited. At 9, they said they could take us.
Our room wasn't ready, so we waited in the maternity ward, nervously to say the least. The nurses were very apologetic, but I was not complaining. Their job is one that I highly respect AND they were going to be taking care of me, so I was not going to complain at all. :)
We got into the room at about 10:30. I changed into what was to be my clothes for the next 2 days: the dreaded hospital gown that had to be open in the back. Who wants to see a pregnant lady's hiney, I have no idea.
I had to get my IV in and the nurse told me right off the bat that she was not good at starting an IV......yikes. And she was telling the truth because she did it wrong on my left arm and I still have a bruise there today. She did the other arm and it was fine. She was new and again, I was not complaining.
They started the pitocin and the antibiotic for my Group B Strep at around 11:30. I was registering contractions on the monitor, but I couldn't feel them yet. I remember watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, listening to my OB talking to Chad about the times when Chester County was woods and trees back in the day and waiting to feel the contractions.
I began to feel some relatively painful contractions around 1pm. The nurse was scaring me a bit, saying that before they got really bad, if I wanted an epidural I needed to ask for one because it can take 20 minutes for the anesthesiologist to get to my room and another 20 minutes for it to kick in. So I asked for an epidural.
The anesthesiologist came in 5 minutes after that conversation and though she had to stick me with that giant needle TWICE because I have scoliosis and she hit bone the first time, it kicked in rather quickly. My Mom and in-laws were in the room no longer than about 15 minutes before I had to start pushing.
The indicator to push was that my butt hurt. I told the nurses that and they scurried everyone out of the room to check me and lo and behold, I was 10 centimeters and needed to start pushing. Once my OB broke my water, I pushed 4 times....
Push 1: not much happened
Push 2: I could see the head and hair on that head
Push 3: head was out and they were sucking the goop out of her mouth
Push 4: shoulders and rest of her completely out
Witnessing this was something that I wanted to do so badly when I had Eli, but was in so much pain that I forgot to look. Watching this was breathtaking for me. I am so glad to have been able to witness my daughter being born.
God knew I had plans for a drug free birth...but again, God was in control and not me. He has shown me time and time again that when I plan for things, He usually has other plans in mind for me. You would think I would get the message by now and stop with my incessant planning. But alas, I don't. So He patiently teaches me again and again.
I am also so thankful to have been able to experience both a drug free birth AND a pain free birth. They were very different, but I am so glad I could experience both. I am so excited to watch this little girl grow and see her personality shine through. The birth experience is a wonderful one, but nothing compared to watching your child grow and loving them beyond the ways in which you have ever loved before.
Wednesday, May 6th, I woke up and thought "We're having a baby today!!!" I did not think I would be able to tell the time or day, but as they say, we plan and God laughs.
After kissing Eli goodbye, we made our way to Paoli Hospital. When we were about 10 minutes away, I remembered I was supposed to call to see if they could still take me. I called from the road and they said that they got busy last night and to call back in an hour. So we made our way home again and waited. At 9, they said they could take us.
Our room wasn't ready, so we waited in the maternity ward, nervously to say the least. The nurses were very apologetic, but I was not complaining. Their job is one that I highly respect AND they were going to be taking care of me, so I was not going to complain at all. :)
We got into the room at about 10:30. I changed into what was to be my clothes for the next 2 days: the dreaded hospital gown that had to be open in the back. Who wants to see a pregnant lady's hiney, I have no idea.
I had to get my IV in and the nurse told me right off the bat that she was not good at starting an IV......yikes. And she was telling the truth because she did it wrong on my left arm and I still have a bruise there today. She did the other arm and it was fine. She was new and again, I was not complaining.
They started the pitocin and the antibiotic for my Group B Strep at around 11:30. I was registering contractions on the monitor, but I couldn't feel them yet. I remember watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, listening to my OB talking to Chad about the times when Chester County was woods and trees back in the day and waiting to feel the contractions.
I began to feel some relatively painful contractions around 1pm. The nurse was scaring me a bit, saying that before they got really bad, if I wanted an epidural I needed to ask for one because it can take 20 minutes for the anesthesiologist to get to my room and another 20 minutes for it to kick in. So I asked for an epidural.
The anesthesiologist came in 5 minutes after that conversation and though she had to stick me with that giant needle TWICE because I have scoliosis and she hit bone the first time, it kicked in rather quickly. My Mom and in-laws were in the room no longer than about 15 minutes before I had to start pushing.
The indicator to push was that my butt hurt. I told the nurses that and they scurried everyone out of the room to check me and lo and behold, I was 10 centimeters and needed to start pushing. Once my OB broke my water, I pushed 4 times....
Push 1: not much happened
Push 2: I could see the head and hair on that head
Push 3: head was out and they were sucking the goop out of her mouth
Push 4: shoulders and rest of her completely out
Witnessing this was something that I wanted to do so badly when I had Eli, but was in so much pain that I forgot to look. Watching this was breathtaking for me. I am so glad to have been able to witness my daughter being born.
God knew I had plans for a drug free birth...but again, God was in control and not me. He has shown me time and time again that when I plan for things, He usually has other plans in mind for me. You would think I would get the message by now and stop with my incessant planning. But alas, I don't. So He patiently teaches me again and again.
I am also so thankful to have been able to experience both a drug free birth AND a pain free birth. They were very different, but I am so glad I could experience both. I am so excited to watch this little girl grow and see her personality shine through. The birth experience is a wonderful one, but nothing compared to watching your child grow and loving them beyond the ways in which you have ever loved before.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
professional
Here are some pics that a friend of mine took for us of Evangeline. She is starting her own photography business and frankly, she is awesome....but it helps to have a good muse. :)
http://susanfordphotography.blogspot.com/2009/05/preview-of-evie.html
http://susanfordphotography.blogspot.com/2009/05/preview-of-evie.html
Saturday, May 16, 2009
introducing
Introducing:Evangeline Finley DeBolt
May 6th, 2009
2:23pm
7 pounds, 10 ounces
21 inches
Here are some updates (birth story to come):
-Evangeline is nursing like a champ....sometimes every hour and half during the day, and then at night she sleeps so long without eating (3-4 hours) that I feel like I have to wake her to feed her. Heaven sent, this little one is. Let's see how long this lasts.
-Eli LOVES his little sister....always touching her, asking to hold her. In fact, he loves her so much that he is very rough with her. He bit her toe the other day....not sure where that came from. :) BUT, he did act out a lot the first days she was home with us...never towards her, just not doing what we ask of him, tantrums galore, thrashing and screaming on the floor, etc. One night, I was in tears because he was completely uncontrollable thrashing around and not wanting me near him....exactly the type of thing I was afraid of. Luckily, that was the worst it got and things have been smoother since.
-I had my first outing alone with both kids to the pediatrician for Evie's second weight check. It went very well and Eli was a very good listener. Evie on the other hand peed on the scale...am I weird to think that was too cute??!?!?
-Changing Evie in our bedroom at 4am by the light of the plug in night light proved to be a bit daunting when I was sprayed with some type of liquid.....poop or pee, I could not tell. Luckily, the bathroom light exposed it for what it was: just pee.
-Evie could win an award for Loudest Gaseous Emissions Propelled from Tiniest Hiney, hands down. Chad heard one and thought it was me! I was thoroughly disgusted.....mine are much louder. JUST KIDDING! Come on people, be real....girls don't fart.
-Chad and I still have our Fat it up Fridays date night where we pig out and watch DVR'd shows on the couch...but now we have a little girl in between us! :)
-Life with two is love.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
eviction
Tomorrow, we are evicting Evangeline from my womb and into our loving arms. Please pray for us. :)
Tonight, I just cried and cried and cried....I couldn't even stop though I was trying to. As I bathed Eli, he said to me, "Don't cry Mommy, I am here." and he stroked my nose (his way of comforting me). I don't know why my emotions came crashing down on me. Was it fear about tomorrow going smoothly? Was it the fact that this was Eli and my last night together as just the two of us?
I think knowing when Evie will come into our world is worse than not knowing. But, I am trying to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel and that is her. How big will she be? What color hair will she have? What kind of little personality will she show to us? I am very excited to be with my little girl.
Tonight, I just cried and cried and cried....I couldn't even stop though I was trying to. As I bathed Eli, he said to me, "Don't cry Mommy, I am here." and he stroked my nose (his way of comforting me). I don't know why my emotions came crashing down on me. Was it fear about tomorrow going smoothly? Was it the fact that this was Eli and my last night together as just the two of us?
I think knowing when Evie will come into our world is worse than not knowing. But, I am trying to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel and that is her. How big will she be? What color hair will she have? What kind of little personality will she show to us? I am very excited to be with my little girl.
Monday, May 4, 2009
confused
OB check stats:
-39 weeks pregnant tomorrow (almost there!)
-lost a pound and a half (NICE!)
-now almost 5 centimeters dilated (more dilation?)
-100% effaced (ummm, what?!?!)
Before the doc even checked me for dilation, he said that he put my name down on the induction schedule for this Wednesday.....2 days from now!!!! He then checked me and said I was closer to 5 centimeters now and 100% effaced. He said that because I labored so fast with Eli (went from 1 to 10 centimeters in 2 and a half hours) AND because I am progressing so quickly as far as dilation and effacement, that induction would be a good idea. Then I could have childcare for Eli taken care of, not have to worry about getting to the hospital in time (or delivering on the side of the road, which Chad is petrified of) and I would have my bags packed and everything ready to go.
BUT....
.....then there are a few other things that make me not want to be induced. I labored naturally with no drugs with Eli and though it was forced upon me because I labored so fast, I am actually proud of it. Since I did it the first time, I wanted to try to do it again the second time. I have read The Bradley Method book about birthing naturally and learning relaxation tips for during and after contractions as well as positions that work well. I have my CD player with my new age relaxation music ready to go. I was even going to bring an exercise ball to labor on because it helps labor progress when in a sitting position when gravity is also helping the process.
BUT......
......you may be asking, 'why can't you get induced AND have natural labor?'. Well, apparently Pitocin brings on contractions at a faster rate and can be more painful. Now I said I labored with Eli with no drugs, however this second time around, a little part of me knew that a) you forget about how painful labor really is until you are there again and b) I was screaming for an epidural with Eli fairly early on so my pain tolerance is loooooowwwww. So add on more painful contractions coming at a much faster rate than normal ones and I feel like I would never have a chance at laboring naturally this time.
ALSO....
...most of you know that I am a born again Christian and Chad is one too. Chad still thinks I am wacky when I explain this thought: I feel like if I get induced, I am taking the control away from God (or even nature) and taking control myself. I want to let God and Evangeline decide when it is time to leave my body and come meet us.
BUT.....
At the same time, God is putting this decision in front of me....does He know something I don't? Does he know that if I don't get induced, I will go into labor fast and not make it to the hospital??? I tested positive for Group B strep so she will need antibiotics that the hospital needs to give her. I am a born planner, for sure. If I do get induced, I know Eli will be taken care of, we can prepare him for Evie's coming (he does do well with preparation, not so well with surprises), I will know the day and time and anxiety about it all can be finally released after 9 months of build up.
SO....
.....you now think I am a crazy person and after reading my thoughts above, I have to agree. But this experience is one I will tell many people about and even Evie when she asks, so I want to be sure I am doing the right thing. Plus, I know as soon as I see her for the first time, this decision will be the furthest from my thoughts. I have to let the doctor know by tomorrow so I have much thinking and praying to do.
-39 weeks pregnant tomorrow (almost there!)
-lost a pound and a half (NICE!)
-now almost 5 centimeters dilated (more dilation?)
-100% effaced (ummm, what?!?!)
Before the doc even checked me for dilation, he said that he put my name down on the induction schedule for this Wednesday.....2 days from now!!!! He then checked me and said I was closer to 5 centimeters now and 100% effaced. He said that because I labored so fast with Eli (went from 1 to 10 centimeters in 2 and a half hours) AND because I am progressing so quickly as far as dilation and effacement, that induction would be a good idea. Then I could have childcare for Eli taken care of, not have to worry about getting to the hospital in time (or delivering on the side of the road, which Chad is petrified of) and I would have my bags packed and everything ready to go.
BUT....
.....then there are a few other things that make me not want to be induced. I labored naturally with no drugs with Eli and though it was forced upon me because I labored so fast, I am actually proud of it. Since I did it the first time, I wanted to try to do it again the second time. I have read The Bradley Method book about birthing naturally and learning relaxation tips for during and after contractions as well as positions that work well. I have my CD player with my new age relaxation music ready to go. I was even going to bring an exercise ball to labor on because it helps labor progress when in a sitting position when gravity is also helping the process.
BUT......
......you may be asking, 'why can't you get induced AND have natural labor?'. Well, apparently Pitocin brings on contractions at a faster rate and can be more painful. Now I said I labored with Eli with no drugs, however this second time around, a little part of me knew that a) you forget about how painful labor really is until you are there again and b) I was screaming for an epidural with Eli fairly early on so my pain tolerance is loooooowwwww. So add on more painful contractions coming at a much faster rate than normal ones and I feel like I would never have a chance at laboring naturally this time.
ALSO....
...most of you know that I am a born again Christian and Chad is one too. Chad still thinks I am wacky when I explain this thought: I feel like if I get induced, I am taking the control away from God (or even nature) and taking control myself. I want to let God and Evangeline decide when it is time to leave my body and come meet us.
BUT.....
At the same time, God is putting this decision in front of me....does He know something I don't? Does he know that if I don't get induced, I will go into labor fast and not make it to the hospital??? I tested positive for Group B strep so she will need antibiotics that the hospital needs to give her. I am a born planner, for sure. If I do get induced, I know Eli will be taken care of, we can prepare him for Evie's coming (he does do well with preparation, not so well with surprises), I will know the day and time and anxiety about it all can be finally released after 9 months of build up.
SO....
.....you now think I am a crazy person and after reading my thoughts above, I have to agree. But this experience is one I will tell many people about and even Evie when she asks, so I want to be sure I am doing the right thing. Plus, I know as soon as I see her for the first time, this decision will be the furthest from my thoughts. I have to let the doctor know by tomorrow so I have much thinking and praying to do.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
sandals
Elijah has an obsession with Dora the Explorer. He wanted to be Dora for Halloween. I struggled with letting him, as I do not want to stifle him and his creativity in any way.....even when it involves dressing up like a girl for one night. But, he did change his mind.
We were at a shoe store yesterday and he spotted these Dora sandals. He desperately wanted to buy them, but I drew the line there. Can you imagine Eli rolling into playgroup wearing gold Dora sandals? BUT, I did let him try them on and of course I had to have proof of this via photos to show him later in life.....really to just embarrass him. :) I love my son!
We were at a shoe store yesterday and he spotted these Dora sandals. He desperately wanted to buy them, but I drew the line there. Can you imagine Eli rolling into playgroup wearing gold Dora sandals? BUT, I did let him try them on and of course I had to have proof of this via photos to show him later in life.....really to just embarrass him. :) I love my son!
Friday, May 1, 2009
friends
Monday Eli and I went to our MOMS Club playgroup. If you do not know what MOMS Club is, please click here and find out because it has been such a blessing to Eli and I. Our playgroup did some sprinkler time and as you can see from the pictures, the kids LOVED it!
Eli was the acrobatic of the group, for sure. He is a crazy person when it comes to sprinklers.
The kids get along so great together and they are even starting preschool in the same class in September.
How cute are they?!?!? Seriously???!!?
What a motley crew!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)