Two Weeks

It's been two weeks since Jameson arrived.  He is the best baby.  He rarely fusses or cries.  He actually sleeps.  It is amazing.  He is probably the most content baby out of all our kids. He is so precious, I can't get enough of him. 

All the kids still love kissing him.  Juliet loves trying to cover him up.  Jada still likes holding him.  When I come out of the room in the morning with Jameson, Juliet squeals bebe. 
The other day Jada looks at Jameson and says, "I think Jameson needs milked, Mom."

Since having Jameson the baby dolls have come out of hiding.  Juliet and Jada love "Mommying" their babies.

 Josiah likes giving Jameson kisses and holding him. Josiah is a wonderful big brother. 

How it all began!

Six years and four kids ago,I married the man of my dreams.  He is better than the man I dreamed of, if truth be told. I think I'm more in love with him today, than I was on our wedding day.  He is an amazing father, and husband.  He is one of the hardest working people I know.  He still makes me laugh and he is also incredibly good looking.

So, how did we meet? We met at a church we were both attending. When we first met, he thought I was still a teenager. (It's safe to say I can't pull that off anymore) I was 23 and he was 29.  Long story short we started dating.  Two weeks after we started dating, I knew he was the one I was going to marry.  Justin knew he was going to marry me when we started dating.  He wasn't going to just date me, he was dating me because he knew he was going to marry me.  Six months later we were engaged, five months after that we were married!

Justin

Jenny

This is right around the time he asked my parents if he could marry me



Dating

Dating, 4th of July

Dating, at my friends wedding

Wedding

Wedding



Wedding

Justin, Jenny, and Josiah

Justin, Jenny, Josiah, Jada, and I am prenant with Juliet

Family picture, I am pregnant with Jameson in this picture

Helping Bake



Making Gluten Free Banana Bread Muffins

Checking on brother



So cute

Four Kids, Four and Under

It's 8:30 and today is my first day with no extra help.  Jameson is 10 days old already.  Juliet  is 17 months, Jada just turned 3, and Josiah is 4.  I sit here typing while nursing, and taking a break. Kids are fed, diapers are changed, and the kitchen is straightened up.  Nobody, but Juliet is dressed, and that is OK.  There is lots of playing going on, and not a lot of fighting. Life is good.

At 6:30am Juliet started gathering laundry.  Josiah saw Juliet trying to gather laundry, the big helper he is, started helping her. I didn't even want to think about cleaning that early in the morning.

It's 9:30 now.  Bathroom is straightened up.  Josiah cleaned his room by himself.  He brought some blocks out for Juliet to play with.  Jada and him have been playing together most of the morning.  We have had one fight break out that needed attention, but that is all so far.  Juliet has been pushing a stroller around with Legos in it, and keeping me company as I straighten up. I am taking another break to nurse, cuddle, and change Jameson. I am hoping to have him in cloth diapers by the end of the week. When I went to change Jameson, with out me asking or saying anything, Juliet brought me the wipes. It really surprised me. It's so easy to underestimate little ones.

Still Sleeping

It's 11:15 and the kids had a snack, bananas and pretzels.  I started dinner, Sweet Potato Black Bean Vegetarian Chili.  I think I put too much cumin in it. Oh well.  I straightened up the kitchen again. Jameson is still sleeping.  Josiah and Jada are cleaning up Josiah's room again, and Juliet is playing with a baby doll and blocks.  Now I have to think about what to do for Lunch. I am losing steam.

11:45 I decided on left over gluten free macaroni and cheese for lunch.  While I was getting lunch ready, Josiah and Jada were cleaning up Josiah's room.  All the sudden Josiah comes running out, and tells me Jada broke the tall wooden giraffe that was in their room. They both said it was an accident.  It must be a day for things breaking, because I broke my one and only glass serving bowl this morning, then when I went to open up the diced tomatoes, my can opener broke. I think we are all ready for nap.

2:00 and Jada wakes up from nap crying. Which wakes everybody, but Jameson up. She said she couldn't find Josiah when she woke up.  Usually he is on the bottom bunk at nap, but he slept on the to bunk today.  Hoping it's not a preview of this afternoon.  We are snuggling now, maybe that will help.

 3:00 I haven't got much done since 2:00. Snuggling and diaper changes. Jada is working on a puzzle, Jameson is finally wide awake, Josiah is playing in his room, and Juliet is playing with some puzzle pieces next to me.

4:00 pm fed the kids snack and straightened up the kitchen again. Josiah helped clear off the table. Josiah and Jada both helped pick up toys through out the house.  Jameson is a little fussy, so my attention is now focused on him. I did start an episode of dinosaur train for them to watch.

I think this picture captures their personalities perfectly



5:00 pm I was able to get Jameson fed and calmed down.  I was also able to get a fire started. Josiah and Jada watched Dinosaur Train, and Juliet tried out some of the vegetarian chili. She is being a wild one tonight.  Whenever she hears the camera turn on, she turns towards me, smiles really big, and says cheese.  She is full of laughter tonight.  I love it.

6:00 pm kids fed, bathed, and pajamas are on.  Dad is home!

Over all it was a wonderful day!

Just for Mimi

Snapshots from the past few days!

Looking at new baby brother!

Yes, I am really smilling, No it is not gas!

Having Fun!

Wide Awake!

Sisters!

One Week

It's already been one week since Jameson was born.  Jada still enjoys holding him.  They all still like giving him kisses.  Juliet likes to try and help me change Jameson's diaper by covering him up with a blanket while I change him.

He is a very content baby. He really doesn't cry or fuss much.  He is keeping his eyes open more and more everyday.  He is just the cutest thing when he opens his eyes.  I love babies.

When we arrived home with Jameson last week, our water lines were frozen, so we went without water for most the week.  I am so glad my mother was here to help.  She dealt with all the dirty dishes and cooking.  I don't know what I would have done with out her. Justin had to fill big jugs of water at his parents house, so we would have water for cooking, washing hands, etc.  It was such a relief when Justin was finally able to fix the water.   

Welcome Home Jameson

"I'm going to teach him how to shoot a bow!" Josiah declares as he is holding Jameson for the first time. Jada covers him with a blanket and wants to know if she can feed him.  Juliet just wants to touch his feet.  For now, her hugs are not quite delicate enough for Jameson.
It's definitely going to be an adjustment, but this time will fly by very quickly.

They all love touching him. Especially his head.  Jada wants to hold him all the time.  She wants to "Mother" him.  It's really cute, but we have to watch her so "mothering" doesn't turn into "smothering" by accident.

Any loud noises really frighten him, but I knew that was going to happen.  He was very jumpy while in the womb. When we lay him down flat, he seems to get congested.  I ended up moving out to the couch last night, so I could hold him in a reclined position, to help with the congestion.  This happened to Juliet when she was a new born too, however her congestion didn't start until about 7 weeks old.  As long as he is sleeping at an angle, he does fine.

Everybody loves giving him kisses!

He is a great nurser, and is sleeping well.  He wakes about every two hours to eat.  He only cries when he is being changed, or when he is hungry.

We are all excited Jameson is finally here!

Jameson's Birth Story

I went to my midwife appointment on February 18th.  I was dilated to 3 cm, so she went ahead a striped me.  I really thought it was going to go fast.  I started having sporadic contractions, but nothing bad.  The next day I was still having sporadic contractions, so we had breakfast, walked a bit, and decided to go get checked just to see if anything was happening.  When we arrived at the hospital, there was some confusion on how much I was really dilated. Apparently after so many children the cervix does weird things.  They decided I was 5 cm but called my midwife to come check me just to be sure.  When she checked I was 5 1/2 -6 cm.  We decided to break my water to see if that would help things along.  By the time they broke my water I was 7 cm.   I thought for sure the contractions would pick right up and we would have a baby in no time.  The contractions took a while to pick up but they eventually did.  Then I though he would fly right out like Juliet, I was wrong again.  I had just a little lip left on my cervix that wasn't budging, and his head wasn't molding. (Josiah's head did not mold either).  When she told me that, my heart broke, and I remembered how hard it was to push Josiah out, and the horrible tearing I had.  Everybody was wonderful my midwife rubbed  my back and the nurse and Justin held my legs. The doctor was also wonderful.  Justin was also amazing. I would not have been able to do it with out Justin' s help.
After I got him passed the little lip on the cervix, he came out in just a few pushes.  The midwife immediately spotted a knot in the umbilical cord.  We are so thankful it didn't cause any complications, or worse during the pregnancy. Afterword I only needed one little stitch. It was definitely a new labor and delivery experience for me. I am thankful we are both doing well.

Pregnancy update

I saw the midwife today.  I am 3 cm dialated, but thick.  She went ahead and striped my membranes.  I am having sporadic cramping, but nothing timeable, or  painful.  We are doing a lot of walking to see if that will help start the labor process.

I am starting to have contractions about every 13 to 15 minutes.  Hoping it's the real thing and the contractions don't fizzle out. We walked a bunch, had some lunch, and are now getting ready to check into the hotel.  We will walk some more later if contractions don't get closer together.

It doesn't really look like anything is going to happen any time soon.  The contractions are still sporadic.

Well, it is a new morning and no baby.  So we wait some more.  If the contractions pick back up again, even sporadically, we will go to labor and delivery before coming home. That way we can see if I have dilated and thinned anymore. If I have, we might stay another night. If not we get to go home to our other babies.  I am really missing them.  This was my first night away from Juliet.

We are getting ready to head to the hospital to see if anything is happening. It will be a couple of hours before we know anything.

I am at the hospital.  They think I am at 5 cm dilated.  They called the midwife in to come check so we are waiting for her to confirm that I am 5 cm.  None of the contractions are super painful, so I am not sure what is going on.

Just saw midwife I am at 5 to 6 cm dilated. We are going to go ahead have them break my water.  I am trying not to be scared. Hopefully the baby will be here in a few hours.

They broke my water at 1:00 I was at a 7. I am having contractions, but they are very bearable. I have never had a labor like this. I asked them if th contractions would get stronger right before delivery and they said they might not. So we are just waiting to finish dilating and to be able to start pushing. I am hoping they don't get stronger. That would be so great and unbelievable.

Jameson has arrived! 6lbs 15oz. Details to follow.

Will update as soon as we know anything