Little pre baby Zeph photoshoot

Love these three...

Of course...we needed to make sure daddy was good to go on taking pictures as I would be a bit out of commission. So we had a quick photo shoot for a family of 5 plus 1 inside Sunday night.

Shadd's 1st day of Kindergarten

Its official. Shadd is in Kindergarten.

. 

Since I had to miss his first day (stinking hospital), I was a bit teary eyed and worried it wouldn't be just as I imagined. You know like cute chalkboard sign pictures etc. Well daddy did his best. And I will never forget this year. 

He has Mrs. Anderson this year and today marks two full weeks of school under his belt. I can't even believe it. He looks so so big walking into the school with his backpack. He has eaten hot lunch a couple of times already which amazes me as I had cold lunch til I graduated. I mean I ventured out a few times in high school with malts and salads maybe but not much. 

He loves it. Which makes it oh so much easier for this momma. Plus a newborn makes the day just seem to fly by. So far he don't get a ton of information about what goes on but a new tidbit comes out each day and I can't wait to visit in a couple weeks. 

He really grew up overnight it seems. He just seems so big. So independent. And I love that he loves learning and the adventure. As much as I cringe each day he is away, I know he is making and creating new exciting adventures and its just the start of his life independent of me. Wow. 

And then nothing like ending the first day of school by visiting your momma in the hospital. Oh Oh so thankful we are healthy. That would be a tough tough road.

ZJ's First Bath

It took them a day to give the big Z man a bath. Didn't want to shock him and get his sugars any lower. So they waited a day and circumcised him and bathed him the same day. Nothing like shock his system.

He did survive.

These are always some of my favorite pictures...

Zephen John

August 11 at 9:32 am we welcomed number 4 into our family.

Zephen John

Sorry it has taken me this long to update the blog with his birth. As some of you may know its been a little crazy around these parts and not because we just had a baby and my first went off to school but because I also had a freak reaction to the drugs they gave me with the c-section and spent another four days in the hospital.

So I will do my best to catch you all up in the next week or so.

ZJ's (D's nickname for him) birth story...

We had to be to the hospital at 7:15. My mom came to stay with the kiddos till they were up. Funny though...they were all up before we left. I guess they knew it was a big day.


We arrived and got prepped. A little different as this is not the way I have ever done childbirth but I mean why not experience it all. You name it..I have probably experienced it.

My platlet levels (blood clotting mechanisms) were low again - surprise, surprise. Fortunately the anthesiologist on call was willing to still try a spinal rather than putting me all the way under like I had to with Sage. So this time I sat for the spinal (it was successful) and then D and I waited as they preformed the c-section and it was different as he got to be there the whole time. It didn't take to long and before I knew it I saw this sweet baby boy, who resembled Sager.

d with a picture of Sager when he was born

They took him over and checked him out and cleaned him up. D got to the cut the cord.

Then the two of them got to hang out by me till I was ready to go back to my room.

He was healthy and strong.
9lbs 12 ounces and 20.5 inches long

Another big healthy boy.

And he had lots of visitors but some were extra excited to love on the new little brother.

He did have a few blood sugar problems so we had to supplement formula a bit till my milk came in in order for them to be normal. They got a little low a couple of times but thankfully they came up and we didn't have to send him to the NICU at all. Plus he learned how to take a bottle which came in handy a little later.

We tried to go home early but my blood pressure was pretty high so they wanted me to rest and continue to monitor it. They released me on Thursday but put me on blood pressure medicine in attempt to get it to go down. Post pre eclampsia possibly?

Of course...we had some favorites from the hospital

And finally a family of six.

And our week afterward...
So we went home and then went to a open house at school that night with all four. What were we thinking? Oh yeah...we weren't. It was exhausting and I was an emotional crazy as you can imagine.

We spent friday regrouping and had a couple of long nights. The little man didn't really like laying down unless he was in someone's arms. Thankfully things are on the mend with that issue.

On Friday I started having some right chest pain and by Saturday it hurt when I would take a deep breath. I was really swollen (like feet, arms, face, etc) and super super thirsty. I called the nurse that morning and they suggested I head to the ER. What?

Thankfully my brother and sis in law had taken all the bigs the night before and we just had Z-man. We went to the ER. After a long long time and some testing. They admitted me with high liver enzymes and creatinine level of 2.5 which is a problem with the way your kidneys are functioning (normal is 0.6-1). HELP syndrome is what they call it. Something the OBs hadn't seen so they called in an internal med physician and they did some tests and pumped my body through with a ton of fluids. Like an IV all day, everyday for 3 days kinda thing. I was so swollen and fat I looked nothing like myself. Finally by Tuesday my levels were dropping 1.74 now and I was allowed to go home. And let me tell you - I feel a lot better.

However...they think it was a reaction to all the drugs I was given like ibuprofen, tordal, etc. So for the moment I am going to the doctor for blood work to make sure my numbers are more normal and hoping my blood pressure continues to come down.

All in all...it was quite the ride. I mean I was bummed (like crying and teary for no reason) that I missed Shadd's first day of school, had to spend additional time in the hospital, and irritated that it was a lot of testing without much explanation as to what was going on with my body.

However, I got to spend some time with my momma in the middle of the night, chatting and singing songs. Snuggling my newest love. Was blessed by all my friends - like concerned texts, flowers, visits, and even some extra breast milk for the Z-man. It was a challenge as D balanced work and home and I needed someone with me 24/7 as Zephen was just a visitor this time on the OB floor. But the hospital was super accommodating and helpful and our nurses were amazing.

Anywho...he is crying upstairs and D can't feed him so I need to go but I will post more pics tomorrow hopefully. As always fingers crossed.

Baby 4 update

So its Sunday evening....

Yep.

No baby yet.

I can hardly believe it but its the truth. For some reason this fourth baby of ours has a mind of his own and wants to just stay put.

I was due last Thursday.

Unfortunately since I had an emergency c-section with Sage...they can't induce me so we scheduled a c-section for Monday. We could have waited till Thursday and tried to break my water but well we have a few up and coming things this week. Like a meet the teacher night at school on Thursday, which if all goes well tomorrow I will be there. And then school starts for my biggest guy on Monday and I am not about to let this other little guy wreak havoc on his new adventure.

So for my sanity and our family - we are going to have a c-section tomorrow morning at 9am.

If you think about it - pray that everything goes well and that I have an immense amount of peace as I go in tomorrow morning. Its different than last time and still a little hard to swallow as I was really hopeful for a successful VBAC. But obviously God has a better and more perfect plan that I.

So August 11th is going to be a new birthday in our family. I think thats about the only thing that makes it all worth while. Tomorrow morning (praying everything goes well) I get to snuggle my fourth miracle. What a joy!

He has taken his time to appear and we are anxious to see what he looks like and what he will bring to our already crazy sweet family.

I doubt  I will get some pictures blogged in the near future after his birth but I sure I will flood instagram (derrickkarie)with them. And I will try my best to get a post at least with his stats slightly after he is born.

If you want a teaser...his name starts with Z. I guess only the faithful readers can start guessing!

Of course...if labor starts tonite - I will be shocked and super excited. But resting in God's perfect plan!

Moments I don't want to forget

I'm so amazed at the pictures my phone holds that I would have never captured.

So so thankful to capture the moments of silliness and craziness that I don't ever wanna forget. 

Like this little guy who wanted and hardly got out of the car because he wanted to wear that headband to church. Thankfully with some persuasion we were able to go as a boy into church.  

He is stubborn. Like swimming trunks from bright and early on.
Now that we don't have swim lessons every day its a bit better.

And a selfie of this little girl with her awesome goggles

And the newest dare devil of the water. Floating and jumping in like he is 5 not 2.

The three amigos

ninjas invading my living room

on the bike trail - we always stop for snacks

painting rocks and library bags

Lately its been a lot of these three. It will be interesting to add numero four to the mix.