Welcome Naomi!

On April 17th we welcomed Naomi Grace into the world and into our family. Forgive me for taking so long to post, but between the newest addition, her big brother and sister and all the happenings on the farm, life has been crazy busy.

Naomi's Birth Story

Both Nicolaus and Carleigh were born via C-section.With this pregnancy I really wanted a non-medicated Vaginal Birth (or VBAC).  I found an awesome OB who supported me in my goal as well as a Doula (Megan Diveley) who experienced a successful VBA2C herself. We agreed that if I did not deliver on my own by 41 weeks I would have another c-section because I tend to have large babies and risk to the baby and mother starts to increase at that point. Three days before the scheduled C-section I was dilated 3cm and about 80% effaced. My doctor told me that when I arrived at the hospital for my surgery, he would check me again and, if I had made more progress, we could try breaking my water to see if I could deliver vaginally. At about 4:30 am on the 17th I woke up to very strong contractions about 5 minutes apart. John and I headed to the hospital since we had to be there at 5 am to prep for what could possibly be another C-section. Since I was having consistent and strong contractions, I was pretty hopeful Naomi had decided to come without surgery. At 7:20 am my doctor checked me and I was 6cm and 90% effaced! So he went ahead and broke my water to give me a chance to deliver on my own. I couldn't believe it! No turning back now!

My contractions were consistent and strong. I really had hoped to be able to walk around as well as use the birthing tub to help ease some of the pain I was experiencing. However, since I had the two previous C-sections, my doctor really wanted a monitor on the baby at all times. That was very frustrating to say the least, but I was able to use the birthing ball close to the bed. John and Megan were so helpful with coping techniques. I seriously couldn't get enough counter pressure on my lower back so they took turns. Even though I REALLY wanted to have a med-free delivery, the pain from the contractions was incredibly intense. When I was checked at noon I was about 8cm dilated and I decided to get an epidural. The anesthesiologist gave me what he called a soft-block which started relieving the pain after about ten minutes. About this time John decided to get something to eat since he hadn't had anything yet that morning. I was so happy to have Megan there, not only to help me but also to enable John to have a break. Thank goodness he didn't take too long to eat because around 1pm my doctor came to check me and I was 10cm and 100% effaced. He told me I could start pushing and I just couldn't believe it. I was actually going to have my baby without surgery! With the soft block I could still feel pressure with each contraction and also move my legs a bit, so I was not as "paralyzed" as I thought I would be. I could actually feel the contractions before the monitor picked them up on the screen. I had my nurse, a nursing student, Megan and John all there to support me with each push. I couldn't have asked for a better team. After about 45 minutes my amazing nurse suggested I lower the top part of the bed just a touch and this slight change in position made the whole process take off. I literally felt Naomi make a huge shift forward and she was born about 15 minutes later. I even had to stop pushing to wait for the doctor to get there!

Heading to the hospital

Thinking of my "happy Place"

After epidural took effect

Naomi makes her debut (see her waving hand)

John cutting the cord

The most amazing moment/feeling ever

I am so thankful to have had this birth experience. As much as I wanted the med-free birth, I am happy I opted to get the epidural. I also strongly recommend having a doula whether its your first or, as in my case, third child. The care and attention she provided leading up to the birth, during and now after is amazing and so much appreciated. Andplusalso she took these wonderful pictures.

Hospital: Augusta Health

OBGYN: Dr. Thompson with Augusta Healthcare for Women

Doula: Megan Diveley 

Happy 4th Birthday Carleigh!

My Dear Little Girl,

You are Spring Sunshine and a Summer Thunderstorm all rolled into one. A girl of fantastic imagination and a loving heart. I admire your honesty and your ability to take life in S-L-O-W-L-Y. You equally enjoy playing battle with your brother and having girl time painting your nails or playing dress up. You love princesses, ponies, singing songs and snuggles. You wear your heart on your sleeve and have more empathy at four years than many adults I know. Be patient with me my sweet girl as I learn to understand your constantly changing needs. I love witnessing who you are becoming. You are strong-willed and admittedly a challenge some days for Mommy and Daddy, but we wouldn't change you for anything and thank God for blessing our family with you.

So Much Going On

Our family has had quite a bit going on the last several months. As most of you know, a little more than halfway through his internship at Polyface this summer, John and I discovered we are expecting our third baby. Not the timing we had intended, but HE always has a plan. Shortly after receiving that good news, John was invited to manage one of Polyface's contract farms outside of Staunton, VA in the Shenandoah Valley. Additionally, he is now responsible for the school group tours of Polyface.

Immediately after Christmas we packed up and here we are at Briarmoore farm living in a 100+ years old farmhouse. Quite a change from our built-to-suit home in suburbia. I had planned on documenting more of our changes via this blog, but between packing, moving, unpacking, parenting, trying to homeschool and being pregnant on top of it...well, you know what they say about the best laid plans. Polyface also asked me to join their Henhouse blog and I am now the Polyface Chick featured on Sundays. I will try to link those posts up to this blog, but following the Henhouse is the best way to catch my ramblings there. Not to mention the fact that every "chick" has quite a different take on life as part of the Polyface family.

32 Weeks

Pregnancy: 32 weeks

Weight Gain: 18 pounds

Sleep: Most nights I sleep well, minus getting up to pee every couple of hours. Sometimes my reflux is bad even with the medication I'm taking so those nights I have to sleep practically sitting up.

Gender: Its a girl!

Name: Naomi Grace

Feeling: Actually pretty good except for feeling like I have to sit like a teenage boy slumped in my seat with legs spread wide. I swear this girl couldn't be any lower and I feel like I am squishing both of us when I sit normally or bend over.

Movement: She moves a lot and is developing sleep and wakeful patterns. Most of the time her arms and head are way down low in my belly and her feet get stuck up in my ribs. We are wondering if she will be he longest baby yet.

Belly: Big 

Next Appointment: at 34 Weeks. I'm very happy with the OB practice I decided on in our new town. They are supporting my decision to try for a VBA2C (Vaginal birth after two cesareans) as long as neither the baby nor I are compromised. I also met a Doula (or birthing coach) who successfully had a VBA2C a year ago). John and I are excited to have her help us in our birthing process.

27 weeks

At the end of this week I will be in the third trimester. What was that? Third trimester already? I cannot believe I have reached this milestone with baby number three!  When you already have two children to parent and need to pack up your home and move because your husband is changing careers time really does seem to fly.

Pregnancy: 27 weeks

Weight Gain: 16 pounds

Sleep: Some nights I sleep great, others not so much. I have to pay attention to what I eat in the evenings because certain foods trigger my pregnancy induced reflux. Chocolate seems to be the worst culprit (ahem--the chocolate peanut butter donut I ate the other night at nine after the kids went to sleep was not one of my best ideas.)

Gender: Its a girl!

Name: Naomi Grace

Feeling: Actually pretty good as long as I can prevent reflux at night.

Movement: Moving like crazy! She has hiccups all the time. Nicolaus loves to feel his baby sister move and especially likes to lay his head on my belly and have it pushed up and down by the movement. Carleigh isn't patient enough to wait, but she does talk to my belly and has already informed her sister she will share her hair bows and dress-up clothes

Belly: Definitely getting bigger!

Next Appointment:  Either the end of this month or in February. Since we moved I have to change providers...

Seeing Santa

For the past three years I have been taking the kids to see Santa in Downtown Winchester at a community center. Its such a great opportunity for parents because the photos are free with your own camera and they have crafts to keep the kiddos busy while you wait. Andplusalso, the people in charge really wised up last year and assigned each family a number as they entered so you don't even have to wait in an actual line. Sounds perfect, right? Except for one thing...the wait. Last year we literally waited 4 hours to see the big guy in red. Crazy, I know. But this Santa is awesome...real beard, very personable, and takes his time talking with your children about what they want and if they have been naughty or nice (thus the wait). So tonight when we walked into the community center to discover it was a totally fake looking different Santa, my heart sank. But guess who didn't care? That's right, my AMAZING kids. The wonder and excitement of the season was still there. There smiles just as big, their eyes just as wide. And to top it all off...when they each received their very special candy cane after sitting on Santa's lap, they explained to all who would listen the symbolism behind the confection. Now THAT touched this momma's heart more than any picture with Santa ever could.

Look at the Candy Cane
What do you see?
Stripes that are red
Like the blood shed for me
White is for my Savior
Who’s sinless and pure!
“J” is for Jesus My Lord, that’s for sure!
Turn it around
And a staff you will see
Jesus my shepherd
Was born for Me!

WW | Boy or Girl?

Happy 5th Birthday Nicolaus!

N - Nice

I - Intelligent

C - Caring

O - Observant

L - Loving and Lovable

A - Amazing

U -  Unstoppable

S - Sensitive

P - Passionate

A Princess and a Pirate

Happy Halloween!

WW | Meet Moses

15 Weeks

Pregnancy: 15 weeks  

Weight Gain: 3 pounds 

Sleep: Sleeping so much better now. I'm not sure if it is because John is home or my hormones are leveling out, but I'll take it

  

Gender: Too early to tell

Feeling: Great these last few weeks

Movement: If I lay very still when I go to sleep at night I can feel his/her tiny taps every now and then. I love it!

Belly: I thought I had actually gained more weight than 3 lbs, but I guess it is just distributed differently.

Next Appointment:  November 1st

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

October is a big “awareness month” for a lot of causes, the most widely known being Breast Cancer. Yet, many do not know it is also Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. This was officially declared in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. October 9th – 15th, specifically, is Baby Loss Awareness Week. 

Loss of a child at any stage or age is extremely difficult and I know too many who have lived through this type of pain. For more information on this cause and even ideas on how to comfort someone who has endured a loss, please visit Remembering our Babies

John and I suffered through this type of loss two times and although the immeasurable love I have for my now three children is the center of my life, I still think about the babies we did not get to meet. One day...

Slip Back

Right before they took you away from me, out of me
I felt like we were the same then
I couldn't feel or understand the things around me
You were never given that chance
I want to be numb
I want to not ask "why?"
I want to fill the room at the end of the hall
With teddy bears, soft blankets
And a chair to rock you to sleep in
I want to sing happy birthday each year
Watch you blow out your candles
I want to hear you cry and hold you
Stop your tears
But instead its my cries I hear and
My own tears I cannot stopI Just want to slip back to that place
where I felt I knew you

                                 --Tamara Pedersen

WW | First Look

13 Weeks

Pregnancy: 13 weeks  

Weight Gain: 3 pounds 

Sleep: So so. I get up A LOT to pee already and have had some insomnia. I'm hoping the insomnia will go away now that John is back home

  

Gender: Too early to tell

Feeling: Pretty good overall...the first two/three months were rough

Movement: I have felt the first little flutters! Its no wonder, when I had my first ultrasound s/he was doing somersaults over and over! HA!

Belly: I'm feeling really big for how far along I am. I guess that's what happens when you are stretched out for the third time.

Next Appointment:  November 1st

WW | Family of...5!

2 Months

I told myself I wouldn't do this...the "I can't believe it has been ____ number of months since..." But I really can't believe it. My Dad left this life two months ago and it still just doesn't seem real. In those two short months so many things have happened in my family's life I want to call and talk to him about, send him a text or a quick picture of the kids. The grief is so real that I can't help but count the days, the months. And the holidays too I expect. This month I will celebrate my birthday and for the first time not receive a card filled with sentiments of pride signed "love Dad." In a few months we will celebrate the Holidays and not hear Dad read a Christmas story to the Grandkids or receive a "Happy New Year!" phone call. Just how can that be? I am sure with the passage of time I will stop counting and just be able to remember with love all the memories. Eventually I will be able to look at photos without remembering his suffering and our family's loss. But for now, it hurts and I miss him so much.

First Day of Homeschool

"The A says 'ah,' the A says 'ah,' every letter makes a sound, the A says 'ah'!

Apologies in advance if you continue to have that song ringing through your ears the rest of the day...I know I did. But you know what? I love it. I have been terrified nervous about this day for months. I have been worrying myself to death over how I would start homeschooling the kids and how they would react. And you know what? they LOVED it. And so did I! I can do this!

I'm not going to get into a debate here about homeschool versus public or private school. I know  awesome homeschooled people and amazing traditionally schooled folks (myself included). And on top of that, I know unbelievable homeschooling mommies and just as many working and stay at home moms who do not homeschool. Everyone is different and isn't that great? I am beginning down the road of Homeschooling because John and I have prayed about it and it is what is best for our family...right now.

So today we started a preK program loosely following the Letter of the Week curriculum from Confessions of a Homeschooler. With my own stuff mixed in (thank you Pinterest.) A lot will be review for Nicolaus since he went to preschool last year. My goal is to have both he and Carleigh up to speed to begin a Kindergarten curriculum next year. Nicolaus is showing pre-reading interest so I plan on working on that with him also.

Hopefully you will enjoy coming along with us on our Homeschool adventure as the three of us learn together. Below is just the start of what we did today. If you are a homeschooling mom and have any tips or tricks to share, please do! And I appreciate any and all prayers for our family as we head down this road.

Scavenger Hunt

Our family has a community garden plot at Blandy. Once the harvest starts coming in we will all enjoy the time we spend there a little more. Yet, right now the kids get pretty bored and frustrated when we have to weed and water, weed and water. So today I promised we would do a scavenger hunt (thank you Pinterest) if they played patiently while I gardened. Nicolaus was skeptical, but once I explained a scavenger hunt was basically a treasure hunt, he was all in!

1. Something Fuzzy

2. Two Kinds of Seeds

3. Two Pieces of Litter

4. Something Straight

5. Something Round

6. Something Smooth

7. Something Rough

8. Two Different Types of Leaves

9. Something that Makes Noise

10. A Chewed Leaf

11. A Beautiful Rock

12. Something You Think is Beautiful

13. A Pinecone

14. Something Green

15. A Stick

16. Something You Think is a Treasure!