Annika Ruth Jones

Wow. It has been two and a half years since my last post. I have probably lost most of my readers, but hopefully they are my Facebook friends and we have kept tabs on each other there. This post is more for my own records, so I don't forget important events before I get around to scrapbooking them.So much has happened in the past two and a half years, but I will start with the most recent and work my way back.
Ten (almost eleven) weeks ago we welcomed our fifth child! She is a joy in our home. Yes, I said SHE. We finally got our girl. Her name is Annika Ruth. She was born on Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 1:46 am. She weighed 5 lbs 4 oz and was 19.5 inches long. I had to be induced because she had Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). I had a doctor's appointment on the 28th and I wasn't dilated or effaced, but he was concerned about her size so he sent me for an ultrasound. The ultrasound techs said she was in the 10th percentile of where she should be, and suggested inducing me because she would grow better outside than in. So, I  picked up Jared from Gary's parents house, got the boys from school and went home and got things ready to have a baby. They said I could come in that night, but I told them that the next morning would be better because then I could arrange things at home for the boys.
The next morning (Friday) my parents came over to watch Jared while the older boys were at school. We didn't tell them our plans for the day. We just told them we were going on a date. We dropped them off at school and headed to the hospital (IMC). It was so strange, to be going to the hospital to have a baby, and not be in labor! They got us into a room and started the whole process, and boy did it take forever!
We arrived about 8:30 am, had the monitors hooked up about 9 and they got my IV in (after 4 or 5 tries) around 9:40. At that point I was only about 1 cm dilated and hardly effaced at all. They started me on the Cytotec medication at about 11, and we waited. Luckily we had brought things to do, like MASH DVDs, the Kindle and our smart phones. By 3:30 in the afternoon I was 60% effaced, but still only dilated to a 1+. At that point they gave me a second dose of Cytotec and we waited some more. Gary took a nap, and I tried unsuccessfully. I did get some reading done though. By 6:35 pm I was dilated to a 2. They finally gave me Pitocin around 8:40 that night, and that got things going. By 10 I was 70% effaced and dilated to a 2.5 so the doctor broke my water. They gave me the epidural about 10:30. The contractions were coming really fast at that point, so they had to turn the Pitocin off. The epidural wasn't 100% effective, but it did take the edge off. At 1:10 am I was ready to go, I started pushing at 1:45 am and Annika was born at 1:46 am on Saturday morning. She was tiny and beautiful. She was covered in vernix (a white waxy paste) and had very purple feet. And hair, lots of hair! It took her most of a day to start regulating her body temperature and blood sugar, but she did eventually. Being so small it was important that she do that before we could give her a bath.
During the day we called Mom and Dad at our house and they told the boys where we were when they got home from school. They made signs for the front door and came to visit Saturday night. They all adore Annika. There is something different about having a sister.  The nurse came in to the room to give Annie her first bath, so the boys could watch. It was the first time I got to see our baby's first bath too. Gary usually goes to the nursery and helps with that. We had a few visitors while we were in the hospital. My parents came, Gary's parents came, Susan & Greg, Eric & Leia and Samantha and her boyfriend, York.
The first pediatrician that came in to check Annie said she was "A tiny version of perfect." She has the cutest pouty full lips, long slender fingers, and tiny ears. Her eyes are still a grayish-blue color and her hair is brown. She has cowlicks  in her hair like her Nana, Jared and I do. It grows in a mohawk like Jared's does. She has a small umbilical hernia, but the doctor thinks it should correct itself and not need surgery.
These are a few of her first portraits, taken when she was 9 days old (I think).

Jared's Arrival

I will be the first to admit that when it comes to childbirth I am not a very patient person. In the weeks leading up to Jared's arrival I had tried (almost) everything I could to convince him to come. Two weeks before he was born my doctor stripped my membranes, which had worked with the other three boys, but not that time. So by the time I had my next doctors appointment he was two weeks late by my reckoning. When I did go in that day (April 29th), Dr. Ponder stripped my membranes again and said she would see me that following Tuesday (if not before) for an induction. I was totally planning on it. Luckily, Jared had his own plan.

That night we went out to a Thai restaurant for dinner. The dishes we ordered were a little spicy, but nothing extreme. We were going to go for a walk after, but it was snowing so we cancelled that plan. I hadn't been feeling good all day and after my appointment I had a contraction here and there, but nothing painful. They weren't any different than what I had been experiencing for the past few months. We went to bed that night and throughout the night every time I turned over I had a contraction. I wanted Jared to come so I kept turning over again and again! The contractions were painful, but not enough for me to get out of bed, or so I couldn't get back to sleep. Until about 5 am that is. I had woken up with a contraction & laid in bed waiting for Gary to wake up, which he did around 7am. Since the contractions weren't regular, I told him what was going on and took a shower. Once I got up & started moving, things started to progress. I called my Mom about 8am and told her she might want to head out our way, and started getting things ready to go, all the while have more frequent & painful contractions. My contractions were about 5 minutes apart and I was ready to leave when she got to our house. Gary and I hopped in the Jeep and headed for the hospital, making a couple of stops in between at the post office & library.
We arrived at the Intermountain Medical Center at about 9:45am and got checked in. We were taken right to a delivery room - we didn't even have to go walking the halls! I got changed & hooked up to the monitors. When the nurse first checked me at 10am I was already dilated to 5.5 cm and 100% effaced. With the other boys I was only at a 1 or 2 by the time we got to the hospital, so it was a pleasant surprise. I got an epidural soon after & was quite happy. At 11am the doctor came in & broke my water (which looked pretty bloody to me!). They gave me a Pitocin drip a bit later to speed things up & by 1pm I was feeling pressure and asked the nurse to check me. She did, and found that it was time to have that baby! I started pushing at 1:06pm and Jared was born at 1:09pm. It was my easiest & most enjoyable delivery out of the four boys.
Jared was 7 pounds even (our second biggest) and was 20 inches long. He has blondish hair and we think he looks like Jack. By the time we took him home on Monday he had dropped a few ounces, weighing in at 6 pounds 9 ounces that Tuesday at his check up with his pediatrician. He is such a good eater that I am sure he has gained that back and more by now.
We're so happy he's here and are enjoying every minute with him, as are his brothers who adore him!
Now, for the photo onslaught!

 Ready to go!

 He's here!

 So happy!

Weighing in.

 Cleaned up.

 Snug as a bug in a rug.

 Proud Papa.

 Happy Mama!

Baby Projects

I've been gradually sewing a few new things for the baby. I thought I'd show them and provide links to those of you who still read the blog and want to try them for yourselves.
#1 - Faux Chenille blanket

Next time I think I'll make mine a bit smaller and I'll sew the lines a bit closer together. I used 1 1/4 yards of each fabric, cutting through the back 3. My top was cotton & the 3 back were flannel. I ended up needing a little more than 2 packages of quilt binding for the edges.

#2 - Burp cloths

No link for these. I just cut 11x17" rectangles with rounded edges. The tops are flannel & the backs are terry cloth. I sewed two lines down the middle of each to keep them held together.

#3 - Car Seat Canopy

I pretty much just followed the pattern on this. It is nice and large, which I like. The strap attachments seemed short at first, but ended up being just perfect.

#4 - Car Seat Blanket

I liked this pattern because the blanket can't be kicked off and lost. There are holes for the straps, so it goes under the baby but can still be easily removed and washed. (I really love the elephant flannel I found for this at Joann.)

#5 -gDiaper (cloth diaper) inserts

No link here either. I just used a disposable liner as a guide for them, making them a bit smaller. I used fleece I had left over from other projects for the outsides and microfiber car cloths (cut into thirds) for the insides. There are 3 layers of microfiber in each liner. Again, I sewed two lines down the center of each to keep the microfiber from moving around and bunching up during washing.

#6 - Nursing Cover

Here I am on my 4th baby and I've never owned one of these. I like how it turned out, though I need to adjust the strap some.

There are a couple of other things I'd like to make, such as a pacifier clip, bibs and mei tai carrier, but those will have to wait until at least next week.

Oh boy

So, our "more fun thing" than Christmas? We had an ultrasound today and found out we are expecting...

BOY #4. Yes, that's right, number 4. I think I am doomed to be the only female in the house (pets don't count!)
Oh yeah, he is due May 7, 2011.