(Photos done by Melanie Rice when Carson was just under 1 week old)
Monday, July 31, 2017
Saturday, July 22, 2017
4th kid - first week
Carson has been with us for one week now. The last time we had a newborn, Rachel was four and a half years old (same age as Kendall now) and Andrew was two years old. I must have been drowning, except I wasn't drowning because I didn't know any different! It's funny how that works. This time around, Rachel is 9, Andrew is 6.5 and Kendall is 4.5 and it has a completely different feel. I am really enjoying watching the big kids with him. He has been getting a lot of love from them - probably more than he bargained for.
Rachel is a baby hog, and would hold him for hours if I let her, but it is very rewarding to see her taking care of Carson so well - she is being selfless and motherly. I am trusting her more and more as she gets more comfortable with a tiny infant. Andrew is interested, but only for a few minutes a couple times a day. He does talk a lot about the future and all the fun things they'll do and all the matching outfits they will have. Kendall is minimally interested, but safe enough that I don't have to worry about her poking him or trying to pick him up out of the swing. She loves giving him kisses and talks about him, but doesn't ask to hold him all that much.
I LOVE my newborns. I have felt so much joy and happiness this week just being at home with my family and spending time getting to know Carson. I feel like this newborn honeymoon stage is a reward for being pregnant for 9 months! I feel like he knows me and trusts me completely and feels safe in my arms. All I have to do is talk to him and he is reassured that I am near. I love when he curls up on my chest and cuddles and when he dive bombs at my neck with a wide open mouth ready to eat. I like nursing fine, but I always stress about how much they are getting since I tend to have a lower milk supply. We will see how long it lasts with Carson - I'd like to exclusively nurse until 3 months if possible.
Brandon took the older three kids to the Allred reunion this weekend, so it's just Carson and I spending time together at home. Not only that - but Brandon and my mom did all the yard work before he left and then my mom came and helped get the house clean. Nothing better than being alone (with Carson) in a quiet, clean house enjoying a sweet newborn. Dream come true! I am so lucky - thank you, Brandon!
Rachel is a baby hog, and would hold him for hours if I let her, but it is very rewarding to see her taking care of Carson so well - she is being selfless and motherly. I am trusting her more and more as she gets more comfortable with a tiny infant. Andrew is interested, but only for a few minutes a couple times a day. He does talk a lot about the future and all the fun things they'll do and all the matching outfits they will have. Kendall is minimally interested, but safe enough that I don't have to worry about her poking him or trying to pick him up out of the swing. She loves giving him kisses and talks about him, but doesn't ask to hold him all that much.
I LOVE my newborns. I have felt so much joy and happiness this week just being at home with my family and spending time getting to know Carson. I feel like this newborn honeymoon stage is a reward for being pregnant for 9 months! I feel like he knows me and trusts me completely and feels safe in my arms. All I have to do is talk to him and he is reassured that I am near. I love when he curls up on my chest and cuddles and when he dive bombs at my neck with a wide open mouth ready to eat. I like nursing fine, but I always stress about how much they are getting since I tend to have a lower milk supply. We will see how long it lasts with Carson - I'd like to exclusively nurse until 3 months if possible.
Brandon took the older three kids to the Allred reunion this weekend, so it's just Carson and I spending time together at home. Not only that - but Brandon and my mom did all the yard work before he left and then my mom came and helped get the house clean. Nothing better than being alone (with Carson) in a quiet, clean house enjoying a sweet newborn. Dream come true! I am so lucky - thank you, Brandon!
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| Side by side of Andrew and Carson - they look very similar, but he also has some Rachel |
ALLRED REUNION
Friday, July 21, 2017
Carson's Labor Story
Short Version:
- started feeling contractions around 7am, so Brandon stayed home
- got to the hospital around 10:45a (we live 2 min away), dilated 5-6cm
- received my epidural (hooray!)
- doctor came in to break my water, dilated 7-8cm
- pushed through two contraction and he was born at 1:15p
- fast & furious
Long Version:
On Tuesday, I had an appointment with Dr. Watabe and I was dilated 2.5-3cm and he stripped my membranes. He was going out of town starting Thursday, so I was hopeful something would happen Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Other than some minor cramping and bleeding, nothing came of it. So we continued to get things done! Brandon kept working on the pergola and I finished my very last major to do, which was to set up our big tent, get it cleaned out and patched up so that the ward could use it for girls camp next week.
On Thursday morning I woke up and didn't feel too great. Brandon decided to stay home and help get the kids ready and send some work emails. Around 8:30am I started counting contractions, and thought that something might actually come of this. I got myself ready, got the bags together and then as I sat down to make a couple phone calls, the contractions really slowed, so I started cleaning (vacuumed, swept, and mopped the main floor). By 10:30a, my contractions were about 5 minutes apart, and the pain was manageable, but I wanted to get there with plenty of time to get my blessed epidural. Brandon had just gotten on a conference call when I told him it was time to go to the hospital, so he had the best excuse ever, "My wife just told me it's time to go to the hospital." We only live two minutes away from the hospital, so we took a picture with the kids, turned a movie on for them, and headed out. On the way there, we dropped that silly tent off at the camp director's house - she must think I am absolutely crazy, but I didn't want to mess with it anymore! We also forgot the camera, so we turned around to grab that. I also announced that Brandon should get ready for a slew of swear words since I knew what was coming.
We arrived to the hospital around 10:45a and in triage, I was about 5-6cm dilated and 100% effaced, so we knew that we were staying. We let Gma Nancy know that the kids were at the house, and that she could go grab them anytime. Our nurse was great, and got us back to labor & delivery quickly and efficiently and got the epidural ordered. My pain was very manageable and the contractions seemed to slow once we got there. We got the epidural all done and I got settled, and then we met Dr. Andrew Thomas, who was the doctor on call and he checked me (dilated 7-8cm) and broke my water. He didn't go too far away, because he was back within a half hour or so since we were ready to go.
I always get REALLY nervous right before, and remain very quiet and silent throughout the whole thing. Brandon was right there though to encourage me and let me know that I could do it. And he is always good for a laugh and provides some much needed comedic relief throughout the whole thing.
I pushed through two contractions and the little man was here at 1:15p! The doctor said he was trying to get his hand out first, so he had to push it back down. Once they got him cleaned up a little bit and weighed and measured (8 lb 2 oz & 20 inches), they had him on my chest for skin to skin for an hour or so, while the doctor delivered the placenta and stitched me back together. Yikes! I received a 2nd degree tear along my episiotomy scar from Rachel and in multiple other directions, which is why I say that he came into this world fast and furious. The doctor was stitching me up for at least 30 minutes - thank goodness for that epidural!! And the crazy news is that I didn't even say one swear word throughout the whole ordeal. It was really not that bad, and went as perfectly as I could have hoped (also very similar to Kendall's delivery - although I did not tear as badly with her and she weighed a pound less).
I never get as emotional as I think I should be - I feel like I'm not feeling the right emotions if I am not bawling when they arrive. So I typically don't cry when they arrive (I think I may have with Rachel because I was so relieved it was over). With this delivery, I didn't cry except just right before for a brief second when I got a text from Kasey Perkinson wishing me good luck and she told me that she was crying (again, could have been the nerves/anxiety talking). When he was born, I think I was a little in shock and in complete awe of how this all works - it truly is a miracle (one that I have never actually seen myself because I close my eyes to keep from being completely traumatized and I have avoided all birth videos). How did this little human just come out of me? How did he ever fit inside me for 9 months? What does he look like and how are his vitals? How can he all of a sudden breathe? It is a very surreal experience each time - time seems to stand still for a moment, and I am amazed at the process and that I am able to carry and deliver a baby into this world.
Once everyone left the room for a few minutes, and Brandon got to hold him finally, then he was all of a sudden ready to name the little guy! We had had a running list of 4-5 names throughout the process that we both liked, but we just hadn't chosen one. I told Brandon that I wanted him to take the lead on choosing the name, so he just said what was on his mind and I was thrilled that he picked Carson Bryant Hale. I really didn't have a strong opinion between all of our front runner name options and liked them all for different reasons (Ben, Cameron, Maddon).
So Carson arrived safe and sound, and we stayed at the hospital for about 30 hours. The hospital is not our favorite place, so we were itching to get out of there. He passed all of his tests, got circumcised and was doing good, so there was no reason to stay. The nurses all said that we were such easy and low maintenance patients (there must be some serious crazy mamas out there). Brandon was a little bored since there wasn't much for him to do - typical of a 4th baby. We remember being first-time parents and not knowing what the heck we were doing and being so stressed the whole time trying to keep a little baby alive. Brandon stayed at home the first night with the kids, and then came back and watched TV and hung out while I nursed and then held Carson while I tried to take a nap.
Welcome to our world, little buddy! We are so grateful you are here safe and sound!
- started feeling contractions around 7am, so Brandon stayed home
- got to the hospital around 10:45a (we live 2 min away), dilated 5-6cm
- received my epidural (hooray!)
- doctor came in to break my water, dilated 7-8cm
- pushed through two contraction and he was born at 1:15p
- fast & furious
Long Version:
On Tuesday, I had an appointment with Dr. Watabe and I was dilated 2.5-3cm and he stripped my membranes. He was going out of town starting Thursday, so I was hopeful something would happen Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Other than some minor cramping and bleeding, nothing came of it. So we continued to get things done! Brandon kept working on the pergola and I finished my very last major to do, which was to set up our big tent, get it cleaned out and patched up so that the ward could use it for girls camp next week.
On Thursday morning I woke up and didn't feel too great. Brandon decided to stay home and help get the kids ready and send some work emails. Around 8:30am I started counting contractions, and thought that something might actually come of this. I got myself ready, got the bags together and then as I sat down to make a couple phone calls, the contractions really slowed, so I started cleaning (vacuumed, swept, and mopped the main floor). By 10:30a, my contractions were about 5 minutes apart, and the pain was manageable, but I wanted to get there with plenty of time to get my blessed epidural. Brandon had just gotten on a conference call when I told him it was time to go to the hospital, so he had the best excuse ever, "My wife just told me it's time to go to the hospital." We only live two minutes away from the hospital, so we took a picture with the kids, turned a movie on for them, and headed out. On the way there, we dropped that silly tent off at the camp director's house - she must think I am absolutely crazy, but I didn't want to mess with it anymore! We also forgot the camera, so we turned around to grab that. I also announced that Brandon should get ready for a slew of swear words since I knew what was coming.
We arrived to the hospital around 10:45a and in triage, I was about 5-6cm dilated and 100% effaced, so we knew that we were staying. We let Gma Nancy know that the kids were at the house, and that she could go grab them anytime. Our nurse was great, and got us back to labor & delivery quickly and efficiently and got the epidural ordered. My pain was very manageable and the contractions seemed to slow once we got there. We got the epidural all done and I got settled, and then we met Dr. Andrew Thomas, who was the doctor on call and he checked me (dilated 7-8cm) and broke my water. He didn't go too far away, because he was back within a half hour or so since we were ready to go.
I always get REALLY nervous right before, and remain very quiet and silent throughout the whole thing. Brandon was right there though to encourage me and let me know that I could do it. And he is always good for a laugh and provides some much needed comedic relief throughout the whole thing.
I pushed through two contractions and the little man was here at 1:15p! The doctor said he was trying to get his hand out first, so he had to push it back down. Once they got him cleaned up a little bit and weighed and measured (8 lb 2 oz & 20 inches), they had him on my chest for skin to skin for an hour or so, while the doctor delivered the placenta and stitched me back together. Yikes! I received a 2nd degree tear along my episiotomy scar from Rachel and in multiple other directions, which is why I say that he came into this world fast and furious. The doctor was stitching me up for at least 30 minutes - thank goodness for that epidural!! And the crazy news is that I didn't even say one swear word throughout the whole ordeal. It was really not that bad, and went as perfectly as I could have hoped (also very similar to Kendall's delivery - although I did not tear as badly with her and she weighed a pound less).
I never get as emotional as I think I should be - I feel like I'm not feeling the right emotions if I am not bawling when they arrive. So I typically don't cry when they arrive (I think I may have with Rachel because I was so relieved it was over). With this delivery, I didn't cry except just right before for a brief second when I got a text from Kasey Perkinson wishing me good luck and she told me that she was crying (again, could have been the nerves/anxiety talking). When he was born, I think I was a little in shock and in complete awe of how this all works - it truly is a miracle (one that I have never actually seen myself because I close my eyes to keep from being completely traumatized and I have avoided all birth videos). How did this little human just come out of me? How did he ever fit inside me for 9 months? What does he look like and how are his vitals? How can he all of a sudden breathe? It is a very surreal experience each time - time seems to stand still for a moment, and I am amazed at the process and that I am able to carry and deliver a baby into this world.
Once everyone left the room for a few minutes, and Brandon got to hold him finally, then he was all of a sudden ready to name the little guy! We had had a running list of 4-5 names throughout the process that we both liked, but we just hadn't chosen one. I told Brandon that I wanted him to take the lead on choosing the name, so he just said what was on his mind and I was thrilled that he picked Carson Bryant Hale. I really didn't have a strong opinion between all of our front runner name options and liked them all for different reasons (Ben, Cameron, Maddon).
So Carson arrived safe and sound, and we stayed at the hospital for about 30 hours. The hospital is not our favorite place, so we were itching to get out of there. He passed all of his tests, got circumcised and was doing good, so there was no reason to stay. The nurses all said that we were such easy and low maintenance patients (there must be some serious crazy mamas out there). Brandon was a little bored since there wasn't much for him to do - typical of a 4th baby. We remember being first-time parents and not knowing what the heck we were doing and being so stressed the whole time trying to keep a little baby alive. Brandon stayed at home the first night with the kids, and then came back and watched TV and hung out while I nursed and then held Carson while I tried to take a nap.
Welcome to our world, little buddy! We are so grateful you are here safe and sound!
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| On the way to the hospital |
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| Thank heavens for epidurals! He is almost here! |
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