Life's Journey with 8

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Easter, 2008

Easter Sunday dawned bright and beautiful this morning. It was a bit cold, but warmed up throughout the day. Everyone looked so nice this morning for church. We had a wonderful church service celebrating the Resurrection. Paul brought a powerful message on the people for whom Easter is for. There was a sweet spirit this morning as well as a full house.

After church, we went to Paul's parents house for a delicous Easter meal, after which Ellie celebrated her birthday with Nana and Poppy and Aunt Sherry and Uncle Phil. Then the adults went outside to hide the Easter eggs for the egg hunt. My mom started having egg hunts for us when we were little, and continues to this day. I remember hunting Easter eggs when I was in college! The reason we loved to hunt eggs was because there was money in them. My kids are the same way and every one loves the Easter egg hunt. Samuel had a fun time this year finding the eggs.

We came home and all crashed. We were up late last night and up early this morning so every one of us were tired. Even Baby Ben took a nap so I could sleep. We got up later and hid the Easter baskets and the kids found them and had fun playing outside with the bubbles, frisbees, boomerangs and jump ropes.

It was a nice day, and we are so blessed. Blessed to be able to celebrate the Resurrection with family and friends.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Ellie's Birth Story

I was due with Ellie on March 22nd. It was a relatively easy pregnancy, and there were no complications until the last 1-2 weeks when I was put on bedrest due to my blood pressure. Even though she was my fourth child, she was the first one I went into labor on my own with, so I wasn't sure what to expect.

About 5 days before her due date, I began to have contractions. They varied in intensity and in duration, so I wasn't sure what was happening. 2 days before she was due, the contractions became more intense and more in frequency. Since this was my first "real" labor, we called the doctor and he said we need to wait until they contractions were closer together. So we waited.

She was due on Monday. Sunday afternoon and evening the contractions picked up alot and other things happened that let me know labor was imminent. Early in the morning, Paul and I went to the hospital, sure that this was it. We checked in and they checked me and I was barely dilated. So they told me to walk for an hour and they check again. I did. I did not progress any, so they sent me home.

I was frustrated at this point. These contractions were so painful and because they weren't doing anything, it made me mad. We got home to discover my mom (who had been staying with us) had been sick with food poisoning. We tried to get some sleep, but between the painful contractions and everything else, it was next to impossible.

I had a doctor's appointment the next day, my due date. We got up and Paul drove me there. The doctor was surprised I was having contractions and checked me- I was at a 5 and maybe more. She ordered me to go right to the hospital. I told here we couldn't- I didn't have the camera with me. She said forget the camera! But I knew how I am in labor (slow), so we went home and got the camera (it was only around the corner) and then we even went and paid the electric bill!

I got to the hospital around noon, they broke my water, started pitocin and an epidural and I labored in comfort right until the end when the epidural wore off. She was born at 8:16pm, weighing 9lbs., 3 oz.

Ellie was a great baby- I don't recall any problems or issues with her. She did have her days and nights mixed up at first, but we straightened that out and by 6 weeks she was sleeping through the night. She has always been unique and has brought great joy to our house. I can't believe she is 9 already. She is a great help with Sam and Ben and will one day be a great mother.

Happy 9th birthday Ellie- I love you!