Random Update on Life

Right after Andon was born, Alva & Wendy and family came to visit and meet him. They even brought dinner for everyone! Nothing like going to visit someone else and bringing your own meal; what a slacker I am! Thanks, Wendy!


Here are Rebekah and Mikayla contrasting Andon and Kyler. It's amazing how much a newborn grows in just four months! I'm sure in the not-too-distant future, they'll be about the same size and be best buddies.

Mikayla and cute Kyler. Yes, we all know Alva and Wendy secretly loved the name Skyler so decided to copy it as closely as possible! LOL!

Jana came and spent an entire day with me to help me out. It was so wonderful to have her here. She is overwhelmed with life herself, yet took the time to come down for an entire day. She is a wonderful sister! Thank you, Jana!


Here are Spencer and Daniel enjoying some zucchini/chocolate chip muffins we made.

Kylene enjoying a play date/tea party with Rachel & Gwen one Saturday.

Spencer showing off his car he got from a friend's birthday party.  I think this is going to double as his Halloween costume.  Yay for me: simple is very en vogue this year!

Maile and kids came to spend a Sunday afternoon with us in order to meet Andon.  We love having them come!

Bridgette, Kylene and Alohi showing off their beee-you-tiful makeup job!

Tutu and Grandpa visiting on their way to Eugene for work.

Random Skyler silliness (Andon's pants on his head).

Andon has been my fussiest baby by far (colic, anyone?) We have spent a LOT of time on this exercise ball. Usually he falls asleep in my arms, but this time I had him on my legs and had Kylene snap a picture.  (The mess in the background is, unfortunately, indicative of what the rest of my house looks like these days!)

Can you see the handprint Spencer had after waking up from his nap? I promise that is his own hand:).

 

Growing

Here are a few shots of the last several weeks...
Andon, three weeks, found his thumb!

Andon, four weeks

Four kids! 

Go Cougars!

Our little burrito: 4 1/2 weeks.

Five weeks.  Notice those (very squeezable) cheeks?  He is already 11 pounds 5 ounces!

Five weeks.  I love the profile.  He has the cutest little turned up nose.

Our Two Week Weight Champion!

Yesterday was Andon's two week doctor appointment.  He was two weeks and two days old.  Exactly two weeks ago when we left the hospital, he weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz.  Yesterday he weighed 8 lbs 14 oz!  I thought for sure he had gained some weight, so maybe was around 8 pounds, but I didn't expect him to be almost 9 pounds already!  All my babies have gained wait quickly so I don't know why it always surprises me so much.  But I'm proud to say Andon is gaining weight like a champ!

Andon's Arrival

My labor started at 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, September 20th. I was up timing contractions and watching the news to pass the time. By 6:00 a.m., I felt like I was definitely in labor and we should go to the hospital. (Although it was hard to believe that he would actually be born on his due date.) We called my parent's and my mom came to our house and we headed out.
Here I am, ready to head to the hospital.

When we arrived, I was dilated to 4 cm. Dr. West said I could go home if I wanted to, but he didn't recommend it since this was my fourth child: when things really got moving, it would probably go very quickly. So, we decided to stay and see if I had progressed after a few hours. (Little did we know, we still had 12 more hours to pass at the hospital!)

At 1:00, I was barely 5 cm. Dr. West was surprised. I had talked to my mom and she said she never really progressed until her water was broken, so we decided to break my water.

At 5:00, I was only 6 cm! This was getting frustrating. My contractions were getting stronger, but still weren't unbearable. I spent a lot of time walking around the room, went in the jacuzzi tub, tried to keep moving/distracted, etc. Some contractions would be just a few minutes apart, then some were 10 minutes apart: very strange, but I felt like my body was giving me lots of breaks, which I didn't mind either. I just really wanted to do it on my own (without pitocin), so I hoped Dr. West would be patient. Here's daddy recording that we are 6 cm dilated, and trying to pass the time with a good Louis L'Amour!

At 6:00, I was only 7 cm. Dr. West said our baby was very stubborn and he was totally surprised at how unpredictable he was being! (Thanks!) He asked if we wanted to start Pitocin or give it one more hour. I said one more hour. By now, the contractions had really picked up, but I was very discouraged. Kyle gave me a blessing. I really believe that made all the difference. At 7:00, when Dr. West came in to check on me again, I was ready to push. I pushed for about five minutes and Andon was born at 7:07 p.m.! A perfect, 7 pound 3 ounce, 20 inch long baby boy!

The nurses at Salem Hospital were wonderful. I loved every one that we worked with: I so appreciated how they listened and responded to what we wanted our labor/delivery to be like. They were so sweet and helpful, offering lots of support, both before and after the delivery.

It was a totally different experience giving birth with no pitocin, no epidural, and no other pain medication. I feel like my recovery has been much easier/faster. I know a lot of people will think I'm crazy, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

A proud daddy!

Just look at all that hair! All our baby's have had hair at birth, but we think Andon wins the prize for the most!

Welcome to earth, little Andon. We love you!

More of Our Cute Little Andon...

These didn't load in the right order, but here are more pictures of our beautiful, er, handsome little Andon!

Four days old.

First walk outside, first time in the baby sling.

Eight Days Old.

Bath time! Nine days old.

An hour or so old. Watch out world, here I come!

Meeting Kylene.

Meeting my biggest brother, Spencer.

Meeting Skyler. What a cool binky: Skyler loved that he could stick his finger in the middle and feel him sucking.

Grandpa (and Grandma) Barney came to visit.

This picture just cracks me up: he is doing the newborn hearing screen, but it looks likes he is ready to rock out!

Ready to go home.