Pictures

Here are some cute pictures of my kids this past week.

The kids were so intrigued by me bathing Benjamin.

This kind of gives an idea of how small he is.

I love this picture. Ryan just adores this little guy.

Isn't she so beautiful? I cropped this from a picture taken when the kids were watching Benjamin's bath.

I am a sucker for sleeping babies pictures.

Becca also adores her baby brother.

Becca was bawling for Ash's graduation cap!!

Another one. I really can't get enough!!

Kids say the darndest things

I really should have been recording all of the funny things my kids have been saying the past few weeks. Here are a couple of cute and funny things.

Becca to Nana: You need to go home. (said while I was stuck in the hospital-she was having a hard time with mom being gone)

Becca to Nana again once I was home: You can go home now.

Becca to Nana the day Nana was leaving: You stay. Don't go home.

Becca and Ash have been curious about nursing. Ash asked how I was going to feed the baby. So, one of the first times I was feeding him once i was home Ash came in and watched. She said "Oh, that's just like a sheep." Baa baa....I really feel more like a cow, but we are on the same page!!

When I was pregnant and asked Becca where the baby was she would always point to my huge chest and say "baby". So, one day I was feeding Benjamin and she was watching for a minute. She got a concerned look on her face and said "Mom, why is Benjamin biting the baby?"

Ashlyn's Preschool graduation

This year we did a neighborhood preschool for Ashlyn and her friends. It ended up being 7 kids in our ward, 6 girls and 1 boy. The moms would teach every 7 weeks for 2 days that week. At the beginning of the year we got together and decided on the order, what would be taught when, field trips, etc. It worked out so well. Big props to the other moms that took it very seriously and did an amazing job. I feel like Ashlyn got a quality education for free. Plus, she was with all of her friends in the ward. It was a really fun thing. It went well when it was my week to teach. The kids were extremely well behaved, which is amazing when you have 7 four year olds for 2 hours. They all learned so much. I was nervous doing it knowing I would be pregnant and knowing how sick I get. But, I only had to cancel once the entire year and that was because Ashlyn had a fever, not because of me. I am so proud of my sweet Ashlyn. She loves to learn and is so excited for kindergarten. I can't believe she is that old!!!

Megan, Brooke, Emily, Bryant, Kylee, Ashlyn, Gwyn

Cute hats that Kylee's mom made.

Ashlyn and her best friend Brooke. These two love each other like sisters!! They like to call themselves twins.

The kids didn't quite understand the concept of throwing the hats.

Small photoshoot

This little guy must get used to me playing photographer with him. What a cute subject!!

2 Weeks and counting

Well, Benjamin is now over 2 weeks old. I don't know how it happens so fast. I hate that the pregnancy takes a lifetime and their first year flies so quickly. I am trying to gobble this little guy up and not wish away a single moment. So far so good. I spend much of my day holding and loving him. I also love watching his siblings adore him. They are so good, especially Becca and Ash, to know they have to hand sanitize before even touching him. We are going through the stuff like mad, but it is well worth it.

Benjamin is a good little baby. He really only fusses when he is fighting going into a deep sleep. He doesn't cry too much about being hungry because I am still feeding him every 3 hours and that seems to keep him quite content. He is sleeping pretty well now. On Friday he got his circumcision (they couldn't do it in the hospital because it was too much for his body to take). He had a pretty hard time Friday night and Saturday night. He was up for 2 1/2-3 hours each night which didn't make mom too happy. He really has been doing better so I hope that continues.

Benjamin had his two week appointment last Friday, even though he was only 11 days old. He weighed in at a whopping 5 lbs 15 oz!!! The funny thing is Brad and I were taking bets on how big he would be. I was guessing 7 lbs. Now, I know that is a lot in a week going from 5 lbs 10 oz to 7 lbs, but all of my other kids, except Kayla, had gained a 1 lb to 1 1/2 lbs in their first two weeks. Well, I was quite wrong. But the good thing is he had gained 5 oz in 7 days and the doctors look for 1/2 oz to 1 oz a day. So, the doctor was happy. He measured in at 20 inches long. He is only 3% for weight, 40th for height, and 10% for head. I am sure he will eventually catch up. I take him in tomorrow for another reweigh. As long as he has reached his birth weight of 6 lbs 2 oz, which he will, I can lengthen his feedings a bit in the night. That sure would be nice. There is nothing more frustrating than having to wake a sleeping baby to eat in the middle of the night.

He is much more alert which is so much fun. I think he is a darling baby. Especially sleeping he is so sweet and innocent. But, when he is awake and you can see into his little soul through his beautiful eyes, well, he could melt the biggest iceberg in the world. He is really easy going and so content. So many times this week I have been so grateful we listened to the Holy Ghost and decided to have one more child. I can't imagine my life without this little guy!!!

Coming home pictures

Look how little he is. He only weighed 5 lbs 10 oz at this moment. I still can't believe there is a 3 lb difference between my smallest and largest babies. And, there was only a 5 or 6 day difference on gestational age.

Our favorite nurse, Beate. She was incredible. She was the daytime nurse all 5 days which was a miracle!!

So, I really struggled with the fact that with my last child I didn't get my normal hospital experience. I love sitting on my bed holding my baby hours on end, showing him off, bounding with Brad baby and I. Instead I had to hold him in a not as private nursery with cords all over him. However, we bonded and had more special moments than one normally would have. When we got to take Benjamin home they had us go in the room I had "rented" over night and get him ready while the nurses did a shift change. I really felt like we had contraband having him in there. It was a weird feeling. However, as I was changing him into clothes and then nursing him in the room I suddenly had the wonderful moment of what I usually have with all my babies. Peace and quiet in our own room. It was a wonderful way to end the crazy hospital ride. Normalcy. At that moment I knew we could take care of him and all would be well.

Pictures in the Level 2 Nursery (NICU)

I had a really hard time seeing a tube down my baby's nose. I am grateful he didn't have to have oxygen too. After a few days we decided we should document the NICU stay with pictures. Beate, our wonderful nurse, put him in this cute outfit!!

We are Home!!!

I feel complete. I am finally at home with this little guy. It has been so wonderful having my entire family all together!!! The kids can't get enough of their little brother. He can't get enough of being held all the time. I can't get enough of holding and nursing him without a million cords in the way or worrying about pulling out the cords or making the sensors go off!!!

Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers. It was a major help. I am looking forward to the chaos of 5 children (although I am very very grateful to my mother in law for helping me deal with that right now). Wish me luck in a couple of weeks when I am on my own!!! I welcome that over what we just went through!!!

Benjamin seems to be doing really well. I was very positive when he woke up every 2 hours and 45 minutes last night. That may seem strange, but I have to feed him every 3 hours anyway until he gets bigger. I had set Brad's phone alarm for every 3 hours and didn't have to use it once. The reason this is so good is that it means he was hungry on his own. A very good sign that he is thriving!!!! He onky started doing that the last 24 hours of the hospital stay!!!!

We suckered into buying some professional photographs at the hospital (new program they are doing). Here are a few of them. There are some that I could never duplicate if I tried (you just don't get a brand new born to smile!!!)