Circumcision Day for Baby Jaxon

Cuddling Jaxon after he had his circumcision

Man, I feel emotionally drained from yesterday.  Jaxon had his circumcision.  After the doctor took him in I left outside so I wouldn't hear him crying.  However, he did have major numbing first.  I think they more hate being strapped to the board.  STILL.  My baby, strapped to a board, getting circumcised.  Sigh.  Needed to be done. After it was done I had to sit in the office, feed him and then let them check him again.  It's sad seeing it the first day.  :(  His first diaper change he cried so hard that I cried right along with him.  I was crying hard while trying to change him.  Then on the way home I had to change him again.  I was fumbling because he was on my lap and I couldn't work fast.  He started peeing all over me and screaming.  Oh gosh... my mommy heart. By the night he no longer cried during diaper changes.  I made sure to completely cover in vaseline with each change and put a nonstick pad over the top.  This morning he didn't even fuss at all during both diaper changes.  He's back to his happy baby self.  My eyes are bloodshot from crying.  Gosh, I love my sons.  This is my 5th son getting circumcised.  When I found out at 3 months pregnant I was having a boy, this is the first thing I thought about.  Oh man, another circumcision.  Thank goodness they heal SO FAST.  Another reason I was feeling down yesterday was because he's only gained 7oz since he was born.  They told me he's not gaining enough and I have to suppliment with the bottle.  I've always, always struggled with my milk supply with every baby.  :(

Jaxon (2 1/2 weeks old)

Juliet (turning 3 this week) and daddy

The house is often so quiet with only a few times where it gets loud because we're all playing together.  Often I don't feel like I have eight kids.  It happens to me often where someone will tell me they are pregnant with their ninth kid and I'm like, "Holy cow.  Pregnant with their ninth!!  Wow, blessed lady!"  Then it dawns on me...wait a minute.  I have eight kids as well.  What am I talking about?  I'm blessed as well!!!  It just doesn't register to me that we are a large family.  I thought it'd be so much harder to have so many kids.  The laundry and mess piles may be bigger and the food dinners bigger to prepare but overall, once I had my first kid, that's where the real battle lay for me.  My selfishness had to DIE.  It was a really hard, hard, hard, hard, hard battle.  HARD.  Now, when new babies come, it's truly a JOY because I appreciate each little, tiny phase.  No more wishing I was done with this phase or that phase.  I was truly worried that when I had Jaxon, it would be hard to have a newborn again.  Nope.  It's been wonderful!!!  Even getting up in the middle of the night, watching him under the moon glow.  It's his most awake time.  Mama is tired but I know it's better to give him kisses than to grumble about my sleep.  Newborn time is such a tiny period.  :D  Happy, happy, happy sigh.

Thank you, Jesus, for each little phase of childhood.  Each one is truly a blessing as it changes and challenges us in different ways. 

When Husband is Home We Play

Does anyone find it difficult to do your housework and other duties when your husband is home?  In the past when my husband would have a day off from work it was for playtime and fun.  Now that he is home every day we just want to play and hang out.  I get behind on my housework and laundry.  Either he is just THAT much fun to be around or it's a switch in my brain that I can't work around.  I like having daddy home and so do the kids.

Well, as much as I love having my husband home he does have another job interview tomorrow.  This is my dilemma... Charles had a job offer last week for a really, really good company. The problem is they are slow to hire but then people stay there for a lifetime.  It's SUCH a good company to work for.  Well, they won't give Charles an answer for 2-3 weeks.  The office really works together on who to hire and they have meetings about it.  Since some are on vacation, they have to wait till everyone is together to decide. Where does that leave us for 2-3 weeks?  Still no income till they decide.  However, he has a job interview tomorrow that sounds really interested and could be an immediate hire.  The only problem is that it's only a contract job and it will run out after awhile.  Do we just take the job because it's an immediate hire or wait for the other?  What if we wait and the other doesn't end up hiring?  Sigh.  If we had the money we would wait but the way the economy is right now you have to just take what you can get.  I prayed last night that God's will would be done.  I prayed that God would just shut the doors that would need to be shut and open doors where He would want them opened.  That took some relief off my tortured mind about this.

Juliet has been smiling a lot and is just a happy baby.  She rarely fusses and only does when she's hungry.  Ivy was deemed her "buddy" so she is happy to get stuff for her when needed.  Caleb is Ryan's buddy and Kyle is Chaz's buddy.  It works out good say when we are in public and one has to go to the bathroom then they aren't alone.  :)  Chaz took this picture of Juliet.

The Curse of Hollywood

Can you believe this?  Man, time has changed!  I've always thought the models in the runway were waaaaaay too skinny that it was gross.  When I was a teen I would try and drink Ensure shakes because I felt that I was too skinny.  It didn't work and I didn't gain any weight. I probably thought like that because I wasn't raised with a TV and didn't read the teen magazines so I didn't feel that pressure to be deathly skinny from Hollyweird.  I'm telling you, kids get that vibe from those places. When you are sheltered from that, you don't feel that pressure.  Hollywood has really, really twisted our view of what is beautiful.  I bet half the women in America would not even worry about dieting if it weren't for the sick view of what's considered beautiful.  Of course obesity is unhealthy and that's a reason to diet but I see perfectly healthy women worrying about their weight.  I've been frustrated at myself for my weight and I have to keep mentally slapping myself and telling myself that I just had a baby a month ago.  

Have you seen this?  I love it!  I have it printed out for my kids and I'm gonna frame it.  Talk about taking it down to where kids can really understand it.  I read it to my family with a southern drawl and my husband and kids loved it.  Ha ha.

Ashley has been telling me how much she can't wait to be a mommy.  I was sitting down talking to Juliet and Ashley came up with her dolly and was copying everything I was saying.  Later, Ivy joined with her doll right next to me and they were copying every word. It was so cute.  I've been telling Ashley to just enjoy being little but she insists she's gonna grow up, get married, then have lots and lots of babies and she can't wait.  Heh heh... Fine with me since that'll make me a happy Grandma.  Still, I'm  in no hurry for my own babies to grow up.

Summer Stress and Fun

Life has been good!  It has its ups and downs.  Right now, my husband just finished his last day of work and is currently looking for work.  Yikes!  Yep, that means NO PAY.  You bet I am nervous.  Everyday him and I are looking for work together.  I'm not looking for myself, just helping him.  His field of work is soooooo slow that everywhere he calls they aren't hiring.  So now we are looking outside of his field (which is Engineering).  He said he so wishes he had gone to school to be a programmer instead because they are doing better right now.  We even discussed him going back to school so he can work in that field.  We will see.  It would be really hard for awhile but in the long run it could provide more stability when the economy goes down like this.  Goodness, I hope we can find work and soon.  Please pray!

Life has been good in the sense that my kids are healthy and we are adoring Juliet!  With my last baby our crib broke when Ryan crawled in to read a book to Caleb.  He had been doing that for awhile but as he got bigger, the crib finally gave way.  Now he knows, no more crawling into the crib to read with little ones.  LOL.  Juliet has a gorgeous new crib and we decided to set it up in our bedroom.  We don't want any little ones crawling in so we figured it's safer for her first year.  After she turns a year we'll move her in with her big sisters.  They are excited and that also means they'll get the bigger bedroom that is now the playroom.  

Yesterday we took the kids to the mall and Charles was so proud to walk with us.  He's usually shy and doesn't like people staring at us.  He's finally starting to not care and just enjoy our time out.  People will stare when you are a larger family and we just have to get used to it.  I could help but chuckle when I was coming back from getting a coffee and I saw Charles and the kids heading towards me.  They looked like this large group laughing and chatting.  I was like, "whoa, that's a big family."  Soooooo cute.  Even recently Charles has been telling people who comment on his family size that he loves all his kids and enjoys every single one of them.  He said he couldn't imagine life without any of them.  That makes me smile because for awhile there he had a hard time with people's rude comments.

First Doctors Appointment and Achy Body After Baby

Took pic on cell while waiting in doctors office
for Juliet's first appointment

Yesterday was Juliet's first doctors appointment and I really wanted to get her there to make sure she got her weight back up.  She was 6lbs 12oz when she was born but at the hospital went down to 6lbs 7oz even though I was feeding her on the hour.  At her appointment yesterday she was an even 7lbs at only six days old. That was a relief to me.  While we were waiting I was taking some cute pictures from my cell phone.

Whyyyyyy is it that when you make an appointment for a certain time they end up seeing you way later? I walk into the office and it's an adorable waiting room.  I like to always take a couple kids with me when I run errands so I had my girls with me.  The waiting room had cartoons playing and fun toys.  The girls only played for 5 minutes when they called us back to the room.  I was surprised at how quick there were but they left us in the empty and boring room for almost an hour.  No joke.  Why couldn't they have just let us stay in the front for awhile so we could be more comfortable and the girls could play?  I'll never understand that.

Last night there was a baby shower and since I had already gotten a gift for the mom and baby several weeks ago, I thought it'd be nice to get out of the house too.  My friend Michele met me there and she got to hold Juliet for the first time.  When I got home from the hospital Michele was really sick and couldn't get near her.  She was happy to finally get a chance.  Yesterday Juliet was 6 days old and the ladies were surprised we were out and about.  It truly, truly, truly is hard to just stay in bed.  I had her last Wednesday and we got out midday Friday.  I went home and slept through the rest of Friday and all of Saturday.  That was enough rest and the thought of staying in bed another day was just too much.  I missed my kids and they were sad.  They all kept asking when mommy was better and said they missed their baby sister so bad.  Sunday evening we got to go to church and although I spent most of the sermon time in the nursing room, it was so good to be there.  I am a leaky vessel and really wanted to be in God's house.  After all, all these gifts are from Him and I need all the strength and encouragement I can get.  11 years ago I begged for them to put a monitor in the nursing room so we could hear the sermons and they put one shortly after.  :D  It helps knowing even if I have to stay downstairs and nurse, we can all still hear the sermon.  

 

 

When I got home from the baby shower last night I couldn't believe how messy the house got from just the time I was away.  Wow!  I was kinda sad since I had worked 8 hours the day before to get the house back into shape.  My body was sore and I didn't want another repeat of that.  Instead of picking it all up myself I grabbed the broom and swept it all in a pile in the middle of the room.  It had been scattered everywhere.  I left it in a pile for the kids to pick up in the morning.  I've learned they need to be responsible for their stuff rather than me rescuing them all the time from putting it away themselves.  Then I cleaned the kitchen and finally got to bed around 1:30am.  It felt good to lay my tired and sore body in bed.  The achiness is from just having a baby and I keep forgetting to take my pain meds.  They gave me Percocet and it keeps me awake at night so I won't take it.  Instead, I'm just sticking with Motrin.  I can tell the difference in my body having babies in my thirties than when I was in my twenties.  Those after birth cramps used to be sooooo powerful and painful yet they would put my tummy back almost right away.  This time they were extremely mild which means it's probably gonna take longer. Phooey.  Oh well, Juliet is worth it.  :)

 

 

By the way, my husband came home from work today and had presents for Juliet!  A lady from his job got her several outfits and we were both so surprised!  Today is their last day so I don't have a chance to send something back in to thank them.  It truly was a blessing!

Juliet's Birth Story

What a great experience Juliet's delivery was and even a funny story.  My friend Michele and I headed to my doctor's appointment Wednesday morning at 10am to have the balloon inserted.  I had four ladies in there and after they inserted it they said it might take a full day to work and even over night.  I had doubted it would take that long since last time it worked within just a few hours while walking around the mall.  The balloon was to help me dilate so I had my friend drive for me in case it decide to work right away.  Within minutes I started to have contractions but they were mild and I had maybe a handful of them.  We stopped to get something to eat for about 20 minutes but I ate very little as I was soooo nervous knowing what's about to come.  When I got home I went to the restroom right away and thought something seemed odd so I checked.  My balloon fell out!  Ummmmm... I literally just walked in the door from my appointment and it had already fell out?  It must've been put in wrong or something.  It only falls out when you are dilated to a 4 or 5 and I was barely dilated to a 1 when they started.  The doctor told me to not walk around anywhere but come straight back to the doctor's office.  Michele was there to take care of the kids and so Charles took me back since we knew we'd be going to the hospital right after.

I walked inside and the ladies at the front desk just stared at me with their mouths open.  One finally said, "That was fast!"  I know, I had just left!  The doctor checked and sure enough I was dilated to almost a 5 and was in NO PAIN whatsoever.  In fact, I had only had a handful of contractions and they sure were mild.  She knew I wasn't in any pain but she said I needed to go into the hospital right away.  However, since I was not complaining of any pains she asked me to fake it a little that the contractions were intense so I wouldn't be sent home.  Fake it?  Heh heh.... this was gonna be fun.

Charles and I walked into the hospital hand in hand and I was trying not to be too happy.  My husband thought that was gonna be impossible for me as I'm usually smiling and talking with everyone.  Sure enough when they called me back and asked me how I was doing, I quickly responded... "Good!  Um....well... under the circumstances."  I almost forgot I wasn't supposed to be so cheery.  The nurse hooked me up to the monitors and put a blood pressure on my arm.  I started to breathe heavy so she asked, "What?  Are you having a contraction?"  I responded, "No, the blood pressure band was too tight."  Charles was dying in the corner trying to not laugh.  Since she walked out for awhile, Charles and I were able to joke and talk together for awhile before having to act serious again.  They checked me again and I was dilated to a 5 and although the small contractions were painless, they admitted me and I was moved to the delivery room.  Whoa!  Things are moving and we were so nervous and excited.

When I dilated to a 6 I asked if they could just break my water since my water never, ever breaks on it's own.  My doctor right away did it knowing that sure was the truth!  Last time when they broke my water it hurt so bad she had to chase me up the table.  Over time my cervix has gotten so sensitive and it's extremely painful whenever they'd check me or break my water.  I asked for an epidural even though I was having no pain at a 6 so they went ahead and set it up.  I'm terrified of the epidural needle but I couldn't really complain since it was going to be a completely painless labor and delivery.

The nurse didn't hear the doctor tell her to give a little bit of Pitocin with the epidural.  She said because I've had so many babies my uterus was a bit lazy.  I guess that's why my contractions were so mild? I got to a 6 on my own but needed a little booster. After only 20 minutes of Pitocin I was ready to push.  Ohhh, I was excited!  3 pushes and she was out and we were already in love!  Wow!  It was a fantastic labor and delivery with no complications.

Juliet Desiree came May 16th on a Wednesday evening and weight 6lbs 12 oz, and 20 inches long.  The nurses kept telling me they loved her name and the funny comments were already coming in. One nurse came in and said "Don't worry little Juliet, we'll find you your Romeo."  LOL.  They kept coming in to make sure I was awake to feed her but there was no worry since I was feeding her on the hour to make sure she kept her weight up.  I've quickly (or over time) learned not to hope for deep sleep anytime soon and learn to soak up all the broken up sleep I can.  I think mommies learn to thrive off of  the short spurts they get with newborns.

I'm still in love and loving every single moment with her.  Loving every moment she is awake during the night.  I think I've just gotten way past the "I hate being woken up all night" phase and just enjoying each moment with them.  Four days after birth we got to go to church and have her first service.  We are all enjoying our time with her and she is doted on by her siblings.  What a blessing from God.  Wow!  I was nervous about welcoming our 7th child but all that fell away when we got to hold her for the first time.  Every single sacrifice we have had to make and will have to make is totally worth it.  Having kids, caring for them, and leading them to Christ is one of the hardest things we'll ever do but also one of the most enjoyable.  The selfishness of this world will never understand that but that's okay... we answer to God.  He created life.  Why should I listen to the world that constantly fights for the rights to extinguish it?


Anyhow, I loved sharing my story!  It's easy to forget all the little details over time so I like to write them down.  God bless!

Will Baby Come Today? (Childbirth)

Ivy caring for her sick dolly

Today is baby day.  I didn't sleep much last night between trying to get ready for the hospital and cramping during my sleep.  I'm not really going in yet till the balloon does it's work.  I have to be at my doctor's office this morning to get it and I am nervous!  That's partially why I couldn't sleep last night so I think I got around 3 hours.  Argh!  Of all days to get no rest.  On top of it my puppy started howling around 4am because she wanted to come inside.  I'm not doing very well at house training her so I've been having to keep her on the patio in the backyard. I finally gave up sleeping around 6:30am and just got up.  Phooey!

The reason I'm having to go in a few days early is not for any worries but because when you have a large family, it's not easy being able to get the help you need at a moments notice.  It's harder and harder to just do things spontaneously and THANKFULLY I have help all the rest of this week till Saturday.  :) 

Anyhow, I was thinking about taking a Tylenol before I go in to the doctor's but that's pointless.  It's like taking an aspirin when you've been hit by a freight train.  I don't think it's gonna do any good.  Heh, heh....