This Bud's For You

Just an average day for buddies when you live next door to each other. 

Juliet's Story (WARNING: LONG POST)

I have to write my labor story a few months after I give birth. Otherwise I would write like this, "Here is the story of the most painful thing in the entire world and I will never ever do it again". But when the wounds are healed and I'm used to the sleep deprivation and I've fallen in love again. I write like this...

This is Juliet's story. Abiding in the Lord's protection from the start. 

It was July 9th around 9am and I went to use the little ladies room. And what did I see but a little labor starting!! I rushed out to find Kev changing Evangeline's dirty diaper (a twosy actually) when I decided to announce. "Today is the day. I'm in labor! This baby is coming." Being a seasoned labor partner Kev took one look at me smiling and all excited and decided I was in fact not in labor.  I tried and tried to convince him but there was no convincing him. Especially, when I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the bath tube getting it ready for my parent's arrival. Because I was going to call them next and tell them to get on the road! This baby was coming!! 

I called my mom, who vowed to have her phone by her side until this baby was born. It rang and rang and rang. Finally my dad picked up and told me my mom left her phone at the house while and was out running an errand...I told my dad to throw their bags in the car and head on over. He said he would have my mom call me.... When she finally called me she said they needed to plant a few things in the garden, run a few errands and then they would make their way over that evening. Was anyone going to believe me that I was in labor?!

Because I knew I was in labor there were VERY important things that HAD to get done before this little baby arrived.  Kev, Evangeline and I hopped in the car and went to the mall.  But, no seriously, Evangeline NEEDED some summer clothes.  It was crazy hot and she hardly had anything summery to wear.  As we were walking around the mall contractions started to happen.  I was sure to really milk it so Kev would start believing me that I was in labor.  We bought some cute little things for the Bean Head and then grabbed some lunch.  My office is super close to the mall so after we finished eating I decided to head into work to finish up a few things.

I got to the office and had a spring in my step. This baby was coming! I didn't say anything to anyone just in case I was wrong...but I wasn't, I was in labor.  Around 2pm I no longer had to milk my contractions. They were strong... people would come into my office to talk to me and it took everything in me not to scream out in pain.  Breath, breath, smile, breath.  Since I couldn't hold me composure anymore I quietly packed up my stuff and slipped out of the office.

When I got home Kev could now see that I wasn't feeling well.  If I didn't feel so awful I would have said,"I told you so."  I seriously felt so bad. I called my mom and she said they were on the road and should be to our place around 6pm.  I headed upstairs and curled up in bed.  It was one of the hottest days of the summer but I felt so so cold. I put on wool socks and snuggled into the heaviest blanket I could find.  Kev and Evangeline would come upstairs every once in a while and check on me.

Finally 6pm rolled around and I see my mom's head pop into my room.  She took one look at me curled up in a blanket in the heat of the day and grabbed Kev and told him to call Dr. Grant and tell her we were on our way to the hospital.  My contractions were still pretty far apart and Kev wanted to me home to put Evangeline down for bed. But my mom kept insisting we head to the hospital. Kev grabbed my dad and was giving him the play by play for bedtime.  As we left the house we could hear Bean Head splashing away in the bath having the best time with her Grandad. That made leaving her a little easier.

Right before we left for the hospital.  

We arrived to the hospital a little before 8pm.  They check me and I was only at 4cm... I was feeling awful since 2pm and I was only at 4cm!!  The rule of thumb is 1cm per hour... that meant I still had 6 hours to go...ugh.  The nurse started the admitting process and discovered I had a fever.  That explained why I was so cold at home.  The fever indicated that I had an infection of some sort and they started me on antibiotics right away.  They checked the babies heart rate and it was alarmingly high.  I was put on oxygen and asked to lay down to try and get the baby calm and comfortable.  It was clear this little baby was not happy and a surgeon was placed on call in case we couldn't soothe this sweet baby.  After a few hours the baby finally began to settle and the heart rate looked good and we all started to breath easier. 

It was now 11pm and I was up (again) going to the bathroom.  I was being pumped full of fluids with my IV and antibiotics and I had to pee a million times. And EVERY time I would sit to pee I would have the worst contraction.  One time I refused to sit on the toilet and my wonderful, sweet mother held the bedpan between my legs...oh mom, thank you!  (I hope I am half the woman she is)  Dr. Grant then checked me and I was now at 7cm.  The whiner in me came out and it sounded like this.  "I am going to be here all night.  This is awful.  I am just now in transition and the worst part hasn't even started yet. " Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine. Kev, being the hero husband he is, grabbed me and hugged me.  His strong arms around me relaxed my tired body. 

Just then a ton of blood started to run down my legs. Then another contraction started to come, wanting to be protected from the pain, I  fell into Kev's arms again and held him tight.  The contractions were so bad that being in Kev's arms was the only place I wanted to be and he hugged me for as long or as tight as I needed.  It was now 11:15pm and I looked at Dr. Grant and yelled, "I need to push!!!"  She told me not too, I was not dilated enough at 7cm.  But, I could not help it.  She quickly checked me while I was standing and exclaiming surprisingly, "you're at a 10, push away!!"

The nursing staff had me get on my hands and knees on the hospital bed.  And encouraged me to push with each contraction.  

All of a sudden I felt a "pop" and Dr. Grant announced my water had broken!!  But in the same breath she also told me in my amniotic fluid there was meconium and it was clear the baby was in distress.  All I could think to say was "please, please, please, please".  I was loosing my mind, my labor nurse looked me in the eyes and said, "Tiffany, push with all your might. You HAVE to get this baby out quickly."  And, I did!  I felt that baby burst right out of me.  But it was quite.

Dr. Grant cut the babies umbilical cord and swiftly handed my limp, blue baby to a team who quickly went to work.  Dr. Grant whispered into my ear,  "You have a beautiful baby girl.  She is with the RT team and they are working on getting her breathing." And  It was quite.

Kev was standing as closely as he could to our sweet little daughter as they team was working on her. After what seemed like an eternity we heard a little grunt and another and then a little cry.  We all started started breathing also.  They brought little Juliet Joy over to me so I could meet her.  They laid her on my chest and it was clear she still wasn't breathing well.  After about 30 seconds the RT team took her from me again and rushed her out of the room.  Kevin followed.

I was updated by Dr. Grant, nurses, and texts from Kev on how sweet little Juliet was doing.  They had her hooked up to IVs and getting her oxygen levels to a healthy level. 

Three hours later we were reunited.  I now noticed she had my chin, Kev's ears and was absolutely perfect. I was and so thankful for the Lord's protection over Juliet.  Thank you, Lord.

Waking Up

Early morning story time. 

Comments

I love getting your texts about our blog postings and I LOVE hearing your thoughts. Especially because sometimes I think I post the funniest things in the world and it is so satisfying knowing others think it is crazy funny also.

Anyways, I've been told it is super difficult to post comments on our blog and I think I have it fixed! Give it a try and tell me how hilarious/cute our posts are!

I mean how hilarious and cute is the below picture?

(This is obviously Kev's doing. I would have been all stressed about the swing breaking)

Trifecta

I think Evangeline might have a future in showbiz.  She can sing, she can dance and she is musical.  SO talented.

Dancing

Acting

Musical

Baby Alive

No children were hurt in the making of this video.

Play date

One of Evangeline's all time favorite words is "Lincoln". Her favorite guy friend. We had a play date yesterday with our favorite Wagner kids. 

Baby Claire had fun swining

Baby Juliet spent her time relaxing

And a picnic for the older kids. 

Story and Song

Super awesome kids program at the Vancouver library. Like so cool I want to take the girls every week just so I can go. 

Photography

Evangeline has learned to use the camera on my iPhone. Here are some of her shots 

Sisters

This is Evangeline.  Loving herself in the mirror 6 weeks old.

This is Juliet.  Loving herself in the mirror at 6 weeks old.

Sisters?  Yes.

Clark County Fair

I convinced Kev to go to the fair.  Ok, I begged Kevin to go to the fair.  I have very fond memories of County Fairs growing up. Kevin has zero memories of County Fairs growing up.  He thinks fairs are dirty and bad and dangerous.  Little does he know they are fun and wonderful and magical.

Here is our County Fair Experience.

Evangeline was tall enough to ride on only one ride on the whole fair grounds.  The Merry Go Round. So, of course, we HAD to take her on it.

And, of course, I HAD to take a video. Here is the video on her on her FIRST fair ride. Kev decided they would ride the Giraffe or Jirafa in espanol.

The ride operator informed them they could not ride the Jirafa together (and he did say Jirafa because he didn't speak English).  And you all know Evangeline, she wasn't about to ride it alone so they moved to "Plan B".

This wasn't the fun, wonderful, and magical experience I was hoping to create for Evangeline's County Fair memories. Maybe next year!

Still Workin It

Tiff still knows how to get the job done even after having 2 kids. 

Mini Chef

Showing dad how it's done. 

All Smiles

So cute, am I right?

Picking

Blueberry Picking with the girls. 

Gas

I refuse to believe these are gas bubble smiles. 

Pony!!!

This may be the one and only time she let me do this. So glad I got a picture. 

Pregnancy Journey

It was a cold December day and I bundled Evangeline in two pajamas and was stressed to the max about my first outing as a mom with my newborn.  We ventured to Meridian Hospital to introduce Evangeline and Lincoln for the first time (born 5 days apart).

Today looked much different.  It is a warm August day.  Evangeline is in a tank top and my heart is relaxed and full. We ventured to Meridian Hospital to introduce Juliet and Claire (born one month apart).

 Excited to see if our arranged marriage with Lincoln and Evangeline comes true. And if besties, Juliet and Claire, are bridesmaids in the wedding. Love being on this wild pregnancy journey with Erin.

Glimpse

If you were a fly on the wall in our house. this maybe what you see: 

Juliet sleeping on me. 

Evangeline doing something we probably shouldn't be letting her do but it is keeping her entertained so we let her do it. 

Kev trying to get sleep when he can while still trying to be super husband, dad, student, worker and friend. 

Does Evangeline like Juliet?

Yes. Evangeline likes Juliet very much. 

Boots

Boots boots. Loves the boots. 

Daddy Time

Takes a bottle. Check! 

One Month Old

I don't feel like the last month has flown by. It has been a huge adjustment but I'm really enjoying this new little addition so glad God have Juliet to us. 

Little Girly

One of my most exciting moments so far as a mother of a daughter. 

Style

Little fashionista. Looks like I may have to start sharing my closest sooner than I thought.