The Reeds

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Feeling loved

I wish I had pictures of everyone who has welcomed Sarah into this world with warmth and love, but I don't. All I can do is say THANK YOU for the visits in the hospital and in our home, the meals brought in, the beautiful homemade quilts and outfits she received, the phone calls, emails, and texts, and the babysitting help. I have felt so loved these last few months, and I think Sarah feels your love, as well. It's been a super emotional time, to say the least. I struggled with Postpartum depression and cried for what felt like days at a time. I know a few of you have experienced it so you know what it's like. With my other two kids, I had baby blues for a few days, but these feelings were much more intense and prolonged. I depended greatly upon my Heavenly Father, my good husband, my mama, sisters, and dear friends.

This woman is pretty special. Wade's mom's, Eileen, spent a few days with us, reading and playing with Emily and Jon, cleaning our home, and cooking meals because she knew my mom was still recovering from her four wheeler accident and couldn't come help. I was so grateful for her!

Here's her sweet husband, Keith, holding Sarah.

Wade's dad, Frank, came all the way out from Tooele to see us, and Brandon and Diana, visited us in the hospital as well. The second we arrived home, Jeff and Elizabeth came to say hi, too. Thanks you guys!

My sister, Margaret, watched Emily and Jon the whole time I was in the hospital and brought them to see their new sister for a very special visit I will never forget. Love you, Marg!

my friend, Cynthia

Once we were all home, Emily and Jon opened their gifts from baby Sarah. She gave them fruit leather, mangos, otterpops, and hand sanitizer. ;)

Emily washed her hands right away so she could hold her new sister. Shortly after, we looked outside, and guess who was hobbling up my driveway with her cane and all?

This amazing woman! To say I was emotional was an understatement. I was bawling. It meant THE WORLD to me that my parents drove 4 1/2 hours from St. George even though my mom was still in pain from her broken ribs and sternum.

my cute dad holding his new granddaughter

Darcy and Tai even come down from Idaho for a visit. I was so thrilled to see them, along with Salote, Tui, and Tau. These boys are my favorite 2 year olds ever!

My sunshine, Brandi, was in town the following weekend and spoiled me with suprises as usual.

Kim had Preston just 6 weeks before Sarah was born. Ironically, this is the SECOND time we had babies 6 weeks apart. lol I can't tell you how comforting it was to be pregnant at the same as one of my best friends. We could totally relate with one another on everything.

Wade had an important seminar that weekend so I alone with the 3 kids sooner than I thought I would be. When I thought I was losing my mind, I called my sister, Ruthanne. She and Austin came right away and spent part of the day with us.

We ate caramel popcorn and played, "Go Fish." It was hysterical to watch Jonny play. And man, did it feel good to laugh when I had been feeling so stressed before they arrived.

Now this is what love is. I have to look at this picture again and again to help remind me that Jonny just loves Sarah so much which is why he is constantly touching her. I need to relax and let them develop that bond (while still keeping a close enough eye that my newborn remains safe. lol)

Belly Shots

38 weeks

(4 days before Sarah was born)

Family Walk

When Jonny saw daddy mowing the lawn, he ran to the garage to get his own lawnmower. What a good team! Afterwards, we went for a family walk around the block just as we did most days this summer. We joked that this particular day, being Labor Day, would be the day I go into labor. I brought my camera this time to help us remember years from now these special walks we took together. Like most kids, Emily and Jon thrive on routine, so we would go the same way and stop at the same places along the way EVERY time. :)

Although Emily learned to ride her two wheeler bike this summer, she sometimes chose to ride her tricycle on our walks so that she could put her favorite blankie and stuffed doggy in the basket.

"I'm the king of the mountain" is what Jonny would always say when he would climb on the dirt piles and rocks at this house being built.

Then we would stop at the McPheeter's home so that the kids could run over their bridge several times, climb on the bench, and drive the little tractors in their front yard.

Next stop: visit the kitty cat, whose owner must be losing it because she walks around the neighborhood calling for her kitty in a super loud voice. Remember her, Kathy?

Wade jumping for some plums from the cat lady's tree

Of course Jonny had to select his favorite stick, large or small, to take home every time.

Emily would always ask me if we could wear our matching pink shirts on our walk.

This boy...

...keeps me laughing!

And his sister does, too.

Swim Lessons

Emily and Jon took swim lessons for a few weeks in August at Fairmont Aquatic Center. Miss Evie was wonderful with them. Here they're practicing kicking their legs in the water. They loved this part, but when it was time to go under water, Emily was much more confident that Jonny.

She would go under on purpose and pretend she was a mermaid.

Jonny would call himself a shark, but insist that sharks keep their head above the water. He was fiesty if anyone happened to splash him in the face. This is coming from my boy who's usually fearless. He's hilarious!

Making Memories

One typical summer afternoon quickly turned into a memory we will never forget. The kids and I were relaxing in the backyard when all of a sudden Wade came outside wearing his swimsuit. We were all surprised, but decided to have some fun with it and get in our swimsuits, too. The result: a family of 4 all cooling off in one tiny kiddie pool. Wade and I were acting like we were toddlers, talking like babies and that Emily and Jon were our big sister and brother teaching us how to swim.

Good times! I'm so grateful Wade is a kid at heart and creates moments like this for us.

Oh, didn't I tell you Jonny knows how to fly?

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Welcome Sarah!

Sarah Lois Reed has joined our family, and we can't stop smiling! She was born on September 9, 2010 at 5:19pm, weighed 5 lbs, 15 oz and measured 18 1/2 in long. She's a tiny, beautiful, and calm baby, and we just adore her. Last Wednesday, when I went in for my 39 week check-up, she was measuring quite small, as if I were only 33 weeks where the previous week, she was right on track. My doctor was concerned and didn't know if she had just dropped and was curled up real tight, if she was losing weight, or if there was insufficient amniotic fluid. So he ordered an ultrasound ASAP. When Wade and I went in 8:30am on Thursday morning, the ultrasound doctor thought it might be best to induce me that day and called Dr. Stowers, my OB, to get his opinion. I originally didn't want to be induced since I had been practicing with Hypnobirthing for months and planned on a natural birth. Dr. Stowers said even if he gave me pitocin to get me started, he would be happy to support me in going unmedicated the rest of the way. So Wade and I decided to do it. I mean this could be our baby's birthday. We were really excited!

I checked into Labor and Delivery at 9:30am, and then they spent the next 2 hours trying to regulate my blood pressure, which had sky rocketed out of no where. It was high enough that the doctor would have wanted to induce me that day anyway. Once my blood pressure went down at 11:30am, the nurse started me on pitocin.

At 1:30pm, Dr. Stowers broke my water. And that's when my contractions started getting more and more intense. Wade and my good friend, Christine, who acted as my doula, helped me relax and breath through my contractions. It felt amazing to overcome each one. I didn't feel pain until transition because I somehow lost my focus and relaxation. I wanted to give up for those 15 minutes, but my nurse, Brittany, assured me I was in transition and that it was now time to push. What a relief! I pushed for about 10 minutes and she came posterior at 5:19pm. What a beautiful experience to feel my baby as she emerged from my body!

Words cannot describe my joy, and I know Wade feels the same way. I was able to have skin to skin contact immediately with Sarah after she was born. That was really special. She even latched on to breastfeed for several minutes. We cuddled skin to skin for about 45 minutes before the nurse took her to be weighed.