Dust. Wind. Dude.

Steven Graduated from college a week after Kayla was born. So that was our first big family field trip.

I am so proud of him!

Steven has been my best friend all my life. (At least until I met Alex, but Steven's still second place) I feel so lucky to have a brother that has always been such an awesome friend. He has always been such a good example to me. I don't tell him this nearly enough, but I feel so blessed to have him.

As I watch Hailey and Matthew play, fight, learn, and grow, I have complete deja vu. They are SO much like Steven and I. And it brings a smile to my face.

Congratulations Steven! I love you!

He some how weaseled his way to being the very last person called up. Not that it mattered, he was a foot taller than everyone else graduating.

I could make some really great short jokes right now. But I will refrain...

So here's the story, better late than never. I won't get too graphic, I promise.
     Two weeks before Kayla born (about 3 1/2 weeks before her due date) I found out I was gbs positive. (some doctors call it beta strep and I think it has another name) It's actually very common and not a big deal, IF you get antibiotics while you are in labor. If you don't get the antibiotics, it is the number one cause of blindness, deafness, and still born in newborns. The antibiotics takes four hours to administer.
      FOUR HOURS!?! For those of you who remember, I was only at the hospital 15 mins before Matthew was born. I began to panic. I had a new OB because I was at a brand new hospital. I tried to impress upon her how quickly my labors go. I don't know if she thought I was lying, or wanting to be induced, or exaggerating, but she would not take me seriously. She kept saying I would have plenty of time for the meds. After that she checked me and I was a 3 1/2, 80% effaced, and the baby was down low and ready to go. She took me a little more serious at that point, but still said it wasn't a big deal. But that I should come in at any point that I was having 3 contractions in an hour.
     This meant almost two weeks of freaking out over every contraction, and two false alarm trips to the hospital. One on May 30th and the other on June 5th. The first trip, the nurses were very rude and told Alex that he better not bring me back until the contractions were 3 mins apart and I was having trouble walking. That was even after I had explained my whole situation. The second time I had different nurses, who were super nice. They were even trying to convince the doctor to just keep me because of my situation. But no luck. It was a whole week of tears and constant prayers that my baby would be okay. On my second trip the doctor checked me and was shocked to see that I was now 60% effaced and that the baby was no longer low, so my labor may be a bit slower. Prayers are answered.
      On Sunday June 10th, I got released from Young Womens. Which is really not important to the story, but I've been in YW for 5 1/2 years. So it was kind of an emotional day for me. I'm excited for the change, but I'll miss my girls. Anyway, on June 10th Matthew woke up pulling on his ears and with gooey eyes. He didn't complain or have a fever so I didn't think too much of it. In the evening he was complaining about his ears, so I called urgent care to see if I could bring him in. I was put on hold, and while I was on hold, my water broke, which was a new one for me. I really wondered if I had peed my pants. So I hung up the phone and told everybody it was time to go.
     When I got to the hospital, I still hadn't had any contractions, but they gave me an epidural in hopes to slow down my labor. By 9:00 pm I had my epidural and by 10:00 I had the antibiotic. My labor was progressing very slowly.
     In the mean time Crazy Annie took Matthew to the ER because our hospital doesn't have an urgent care on Sundays. She said the conversation at check in went something like this. "How are you related to him?" "I'm his aunt..." "Well what is his address?" "I think it might be________, maybe." "Maybe?" "His mom is upstairs in labor and delivery having a baby. Call her, she'll tell you." They let her take him, thank goodness. He had double ear infections and pink eye. I'm grateful to have my adopted family who are willing to do things like that for me.
     Anyway, back to me. Stemanda came and took our kids home. While Owlex, my parents, Nancy, and Crazy Annie stayed to help, "coach," me. Since I had an epidural before I ever had any contractions, it was more like coming to party. I never felt a single contraction, seriously. It was actually pretty fun. Poor Alex was so tired though. He had been studying for finals which were coming that week. At 2:00 am the doctor came to give me another hour worth of meds, because unbeknownst to me, it's 4 hours of meds plus an additional hour after that. At 3:00 they checked me and said it would probably be 3-4 more hours. 15 mins later my monitor went nuts. The nurse came in at 3:30am to see what was going on and was surprised to see, It was time to push! At 3:36 am June 11th Kayla got here, completely healthy and only a short time after I had finished the meds. :) As I said, prayers are answered.
     On a side note, I never felt a contraction and I didn't tare. Easiest labor ever. My only complaint is I ended up with 8 bags of IV fluid, so I am SUPER bloated in all the pictures. But if that is the worst of it, I can't complain too much.
      She was 8 lbs 12 oz, and 20 inches. She was quite a bit larger than either Hailey or Matthew. She is perfect, beautiful, and such a sweet heart. We're pretty happy to have her in our lives.
Here are some pictures of the weeks leading up to her birth and her birth enjoy your picture over load.