Memories from August 22nd

Katherine was taken to the NICU shortly after birth. She was immediately put on the CPAP machine to help her with her breathing. IVs were placed through her cord for fluids and monitoring. She got a feeding tube put down her mouth and into her stomach. The poor little girl was poked and proded for quite a while. Once I was moved out of Labor and delivery, I was able to see my little girl. I couldn't hold her but I was very happy to see that she was healthy and sleeping soundly.

Katherine Grace Rhodes

So our sweet little girl arrived on Monday at 10:39am. She was premature but incredibly healthy. Right now her home is the NICU but she is making such good progress that we hope she'll be able to come home to us soon. So here's the story...

On the morning of August 12th, I was up and about doing the same old stuff I do every morning. Suddenly, my water broke. It wasn't just a small break either. Mark drove me to the hospital and fortunately I did not go into labor. The hospital admitted me and I was told I would be on bedrest until I was 34 weeks pregnant. I was given lots of antibiotics just in case of infections. I was given the steriod shots to help the baby's lungs develop. I was told to drink lots of water and stay in bed. So I stayed in bed for 10 days in the hospital away from my family. It was really challenging being able to do so little.

Monday August 22nd, I woke up at 3am with contractions I couldn't sleep through. I tossed and turned and finally ended up in the bathtub. The contractions weren't stopping and I knew I was starting to dialate. I told the nurse and after she consulted with the doctor, they decided they weren't going to stop my labor. I was moved out of ante partum into Labor and deliver at about 8am. They finally checked to see how far dialated I was at about 9am and I was at a 6! I hurried and called my midwife and Mark and told them to hurry up.

The nurses were very respectful of my wish to labor drug free. I wasn't even offered a drug. By 9:45 I would have taken any drug I could get my hands on. I was dialated to an 8 and transitioning fast. You could probably hear me screaming in the next state I was in so much pain. My midwife helped me stay as calm as possible though and breath through the final contractions. When it was time to push, the doctor had barely gotten ready before the baby was out. I probably pushed three times.

The neonatalagist was already there and all the stuff was set up to receive a premature baby. She scored an 8 on the apgar and I even got to hold her for a minute before they took her away. So Katherine Grace Rhodes was 5 lbs 6 oz and 18 inches long. This is huge for a 32 weeks old baby.

My recovery has been extraordinarily fast and I was released from the hospital on Wednesday August 24th--12 days after being admitted. I was happy to be out but sad to leave baby Kate behind.

Goodbye Sugar!

So this week is the dreaded glucose testing appointment. Fortunately, I have managed to squeak by on the one hour test with all of my children so far. I am absolutely a sugaraholic--it's what I love and what I crave!!! So, as always, I have to cut out the sugar days in advance to avoid "the three hour glucose test". So wish me luck and we'll all have a big chocolate chip cookie on Friday.

7 years then FREEDOM!

Freedom from diapers that is.


No changing. No wiping. No stinky garbage cans.

I can't believe this is the first time in seven years I have been diaper free. I better live it up because I only have 2 1/2 more months of this wonderful freedom.

3rd Annual Cow Appreciation Day

I really resisted participating in the Chick fil A festivities this year. I was tired and didn't really want to leave the house. But the sound of free food was calling and I was Huuuuuungrrrry!!! The girls were a big help this year in getting their costumes put together. So, I really only had to worry about myself and Spencer. We ended up having a great time as usual. Free food really does taste better doesn't it?

Spencer said, "I lub duh cow!"

Piemaker--Part 2

I decided to try a new pie recipe and what better than some fresh strawberry pie for the summer. It turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

Day 9--What I learned.

I wish I could say I was completely done potty training but I can't yet. It has been so much easier though. Spencer has even started pooping in the potty--that was huge. We still have "having too much fun to stop" accidents. Occasionally, I will look over at the boy and he is running around completely naked from the waist down--he can take off his pants, but he can't put them on by himself yet.

A few things I have learned this time around:

1. Boys ARE harder than girls to train and they take longer. Because I heard that so much before I started, I was expecting it and I did not stress myself out on days we were struggling.

2. Boys DO NOT need to go to the bathroom as much as girls. When I was making Spencer sit on the toilet every 30 minutes, he was getting frustrated because he just couldn't go. Once I started waiting an hour to an hour and a half between reminders, we started to get results.

3. Don't give up. I have heard that one big potty training "no no" is starting and stopping. I was and still am determined to stick with this even though I was ready to give up a dozen times.