Update!

We had our little girl on March 11, 2013. I did end up having a C-section, but it's totally fine and I really think it was for the best. My body just refused to do anything it was supposed to, i.e. dilate, efface, etc. It seems to do just fine when it comes to nursing though.

We went to the doctor the morning of the 11th and I was no closer to having the baby than I was 5 weeks earlier. I was devastated. The doc told me he was on call that night and if we changed our mind about the C-section or if something happened to give him a call. We drove home and all I could think was that I was putting off the inevitable and torturing myself to it. I really thought I would hate myself if I didn't at least give my body a chance to labor and I'd miss out on this experience of childbirth that I so wanted to have. I had Tyson give me a blessing after which I really thought we were headed for a C-section, but I wanted to talk to my mom and do some praying myself. I called my mom and I told her how I was feeling and that I was going to miss out on childbirth. She gave me a good long talking to about how that wasn't so. I cried a lot, again, but it really did make me feel better. After talking to her I went and prayed, it really started out as "Please just tell me what to do and I'll do it," to "I think I'm supposed to do this, and if I'm not you really lead to let me know, because otherwise I'm going to do it." After that I had Tyson call the doctor to see if they could still get me in and they could.

Charlotte LaVerne Peterson was born at 7:02 pm, weighing it at 7lbs 7 oz and 19 inches long. I can't tell you how different the experience was from the first time around. It was still a little rushed considering we decided to do it that morning, but I was able to put myself together, pack our bag, and my mother in law came to get the boys. We walked into the hospital and actually went to a L&D room (which did not happen last time). I got ready and put on a monitor and just hung out until they were ready for me. I did have one more blessing that my dad and Tyson gave me, and this time I did get told that I'd made the right decision. That was also reaffirmed when we found out my uterus was thin and probably couldn't handle the baby getting much bigger, I doubt the rest of my pregnancies will go so long. The other plus was I wasn't drugged out of my mind this time around and the spinal block wore off much more quickly this time. They did have a little trouble getting my temperature back up after the surgery, but nothing to worry about and I did get to see my baby so much sooner than last time, she was able to be in our room and I just couldn't (still can't) get enough of her. She's such a good baby, very calm, sleeps well (usually), and nurses great (this is a huge thing for me, it took the boys a month to get that one down). Her brother's adore her especially Jameson, he just wants to kiss, hug, and hold her all the time.

Anyways, that's pretty much how things are/went, we are now all home and adjusting to life as a family of 5 and I don't think I could be happier (well maybe if I had better picture taking skills :))

38 weeks and counting...

I've officially been pregnant a month longer than last time and I swear it's never going to end. Actually I do have a C-section scheduled for March 18th, but it's totally cancelable. I think I'd be madder at myself if I didn't at least try for the VBAC, anyways we shall see. Right now I feel like I'm just sitting in a waiting pattern and my baby is too darn comfy to do anything about it. In the meantime I'm trying to come up with projects to occupy my mind (it's hard to do that when you have very little cash, but I've got a lot of fabric and I've got to do something) right now I'm making ties for my little guys for easter, and we got most of the stuff we'll need for Easter, still have to get the swing set though (thank you tax refund). I'm trying to get as ready as I can, the last thing I want to do is have baby and then be insanely busy trying to catch up on things I should have done to prepare. I still need to go get an exta box of diapers for the boys, and maybe an extra one for Charlotte too.

Tyson is also working a lot right now, which I totally appreciate, but I miss him too. I'm so bored out of my mind waiting for this kid, or the weather to warm up that all I want to do is cuddle up with my hubby.

On the sadder side of things, my Grandpa (for which Charlotte is named) passed away last week. I so wanted him to meet my little girl, but he's definitely better off, he was 92 years old and his body was just giving out. My grandpa was an amazing person, his nickname was "Cheerful Charlie" and he exemplified that everyday. Whenever asked how he was his answer was always the same, "Good and getting better every day." He was an amazing musician and I loved to just sit and listen to him play one of his many instruments or sing for us. I'll miss you grandpa! On the plus side, my brother and his family were able to come up for the funeral and I got to spend some time with them and my boys just loved seeing their cousins and playing with them. It was great to spend time with all my family.

4.5 weeks to go.

I'm 35 and a half weeks pregnant. A week longer than we made it last time and it feels like freaking forever! I know 2 people that are due within 2 days of me on either direction, but they are planning C-sections, so they already know when their little girls are going to be here, unless they show up early. It just feels SO unfair! That said, I'm really hoping my little one is head down and we are good for a VBAC. I'm silly, but I really want to experience birth the way it is in my head, or at least partially the way it is in my head, meaning no emergency C section and actually getting to hold my baby after she's born. Not having to wait a day and have her hooked up to a million machines.

I've also finally gotten a little crafty, today I made a carseat cover (and it's totally purple, because I'm a purple kind of gal) and I made a little purple and white tutu for her to wear for pictures. I'm still planning on making a blanket for her, nothing fancy, flannel, purple with little stars and then my mom's going to help me make a slip to put under her blessing dress. The dress was mine and my Grandma had crochetted it for me, I'm so excited to put it on my little girl and have a whole generational thing going on. I'm a sucker for tradition. We also finally got the nursery put together. (Well as much of it's that's going to happen anyways. I had this desire to paint all the furniture so it matched, totally didn't happen I'm blaming the snow and winter related illnesses rather than my laziness.) Anyways, now it's just a waiting game.

Oh, and on the Tyson side of things, he's still working his behind off, we've heard somethings in job related areas, but I want to see what comes of that before I say to much, he's still looking for something, but we've at least heard some things now. He's also been approved for graduation, I can't begin to tell you how happy that makes me. Lastly the boys are good, been sick on and off, but good, happy and I think they are excited to meet their sister, as much as they understand it anyways. :)

The Holidays

The holidays were very good. We were blessed on many, many levels. Our ward was so incredibly kind and generous to our family and I will never forget it. We also had a few other suprises that allowed us to do more for our family than we ever thought we would be able to. I've just been praying for months that we would make it to tax season and then things would get a little easier at least until Tyson graduates, then here's praying he can find a good/decent job that makes him happy and takes care of our family.

We also had my brother and sis-in-law from Arizona up to visit our family. It was so much fun to see them and spend time with them. I can't believe how big all their kids have gotten. It's also been fun to hang with my pregnant sil. She's about 2 months behind me and I am at least twice her size (though as of my last dr. appointment I've only put on 3 lbs this pregnancy, it was 5, but I actually lost 2, pretty proud of that!)

Other than that I've been taking lots of naps, I hit 28 weeks and I've just been so tired. I've still managed to keep up the laundry and make some dinners here and there, but Tyson has been great in picking up my slack even with all the insane work he's been doing, we are very much so looking forward to things slowing down after December. I've also managed to pretty much move our boys downstairs in preparation for the new baby and they are warming up to the idea. I still have a little bit left and then I'm looking forward to setting up my nursery. I really want to paint all the furniture so it matches, we'll see how that goes. The room is still predominately blue, and I'm not sure I can change that, I'd like to make it a little more neutral, but not sure I can afford the carpet right now. Lastly, I really can't believe I have around 10 weeks to go, this point last time I only had 4 and I'm frequently wondering how I survived it, which totally makes me feel like a baby right now! :)

Holidays

I've been a stay at home mommy for over 2 weeks now and I totally forgot how much I really enjoy it. I remember going back to work and it was kind of nice to get a break from the kids, but I really did miss this and I feel like my kids grew up so much while I wasn't around it's insane. I'm so glad to be home again. It is definitely my preference. It's not easy and I due to Tyson working so much more I'm definitely having to pick up the slack, he really is such a helpful person and he still can't go to bed if there are dishes in the sink, no matter what time he gets home.

Baby is doing good and as far as they can tell her feet are straight, I'm praying it stays that way. Not that I don't love Shriners, but I'm so looking forward to being done with them, as far as Jackson is concerned, next year. They really have been amazing and so supportive, it's just a drive. I don't mind this once every 9 months thing so much as I did the once a week thing. Anyways, Charlotte is right on track (actually a little ahead of schedule) and weighing in about almost 2 lbs. I'm holding to my theory that she's gonna be big.

Thanksgiving was fun, it was busy! Sometimes I wish Tyson's family and mine weren't so darn close. It's hard to have to go to everyone's house every holiday, it doesn't make for a particularily relaxing day. That said I'm holding Thanksgiving again on the 16th at my parents and my in-laws are coming. I really wanted a Thanksgiving with the food I want! Deep fried turkey (it really is amazing), real stuffing with sausage and probably mushrooms, we are doing English roasted potatoes (with a deep fried turkey it's kinda hard to do gravy and I swear they are the best potatoes ever), sweet potatos (probably along the lines of Texas Road House, already did my other for the regular holiday), corn casserole (never had it, but it was all over pinterest and I'm anxious to try it out), and a few other things here and there, oh and pie, homemade cream pies! Are you hungry yet?

I think we are done with our Christmas shopping (mostly because I major lack of self control yesterday) It's not going to be really anything big in our house (mostly due to lack of funds), but I think it will be nice and the boys should be pretty happy. It helps that they don't really understand the whole idea of presents yet. I don't think I'll be so lucky next year, but we'll see. One of the things they do understand is Christmas lights, Christmas trees, and Santa (well the decoration version anyways). I love that they are at an age where they are starting to understand holidays and get excited about them.

Well I think that's all for now, have a Merry Christmas if I don't get my act together to write before then.

Updates

- Our baby girl is doing great and I've kinda got the feeling she is going to be huge, which probably isn't a bad thing when she has 2 older brothers who I'm sure will be ready to attack her at a moments notice.
- My last day of work was Wednesday, and I am officially a stay-at-home mommy! I'm in heaven and it's not even been a whole 2 days yet. I'm thinking it will really hit me when it's Monday and I'm not up and running to get the boys to the babysitter and me to work on time.
- Tyson is working on overload, probably at least 50 hrs a week the past 2 weeks, and school, I'm so proud of him, and I think he actually likes to be busy, but the new schedule is definitely catching up to him. I'm excited we are gonna get some down time this weekend.
- Sad new, that I'm sure you've all heard, Obama won, and my/our country has gone to pot, literally. Also Hostess is closing down, and I had to go buy boxes of zingers, twinkies, and cupcakes this morning, I was sad that they were out of Ho-Ho's and Ding-Dongs. No I'm not a big junk food eater, but it's a part of my childhood that my children won't understand and that is very sad to me. Twinkies are also one of the reasons I knew my sister in law well long before my husband. Also very sad is those thousands of workers now out of jobs right before the holidays. That was our life last Christmas and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. (Is this what Obama had in mind, because if so he's succeeding wonderfully?) I'm just very glad that this holiday season is going to be vastly different for us than the last one.

Good luck to all of you in need of a Christmas/Holiday miracle, I hope you get everything you need and that you are able to appreciate all that you do have.

Good All Around

So on the 16th I gave notice, my last day of work will be November 14th! I have 8 working days left, sometimes I wish I could get it over and done with, but it will be good as long as I can work my regular schedule for the next 3 weeks. I'm so glad October is just about done because my work schedule was nuts!

Tyson's job is going great, he really seems to like it. He get's about 16 hrs at the school and can do more at home and his hours are going to start going up at Famous, so it's really starting to look like everything is working out. I really need to have more faith. I feel like I keep going though this same trial. Everytime I think we are about to be totally screwed something works out, I'm hoping this time it really sticks, because I'm getting sick of it! :)

On the fun side of things, I finally got my act together and made my boys Halloween costumes, (they are buns, because mommy has a "bun in the oven", I made one for my shirt too with a little bow on it.) It's probably the only year I'll get away with it, I'm sure next year they will really want a say in what they are. I also made some Amish Friendship Bread, which is one of my favorites, but man it's such a pain just because it's a 10 day process. Saturday we went to our twin group Halloween party, followed by the Halloween train in Heber, then back home, Tyson had to go to work, then my parents came over for dinner, then lastly the ward Halloween party and Trunk or Treat. It's been fun the last month or so because the boys are really starting to understand and get excited about holidays, they loved saying, "Trick or Treat," and they made me really proud that almost everytime they said "Thank You."

So anyways, things are improving and you can probably tell because I think these posts are definitely getting more upbeat.