Helping Rachel out where needed.

I got to stay and help Rachel with what and where I was needed for 5 days or so. Fixed some meals, cleaned up some, held Owen, took care of  Mae ect.  It was fun to be able to play with Mae. Plus a bonus was having Misty's family living in the same town so I could spend time with them too. I'm so lucky:)
Mae and I got to do some fun things the week after Owen was born.
We got to go to the park.

We got to go on walks. As I was taking the picture Mae was telling me to get back there and push.

We got to go to Gabe's acting class performance where he was a dinosaur. A very good one at that.

I love the look of the lighting in this picture. You would think I knew what I was doing when I took this picture.

We got to go to Gabe and Clara's play group at a park by their house. Clara and Mae climbing.

We got to go to Gabe's kinder music class. In fact Owen and Rachel came too. We sat by Misty and her kids and Gabe sits on Misty's lap and puts his arm around Mae and tells his momma "I'm so happy Mae is here." Another story about Gabe that I love is the last couple of nights I stayed at Misty's  house instead of Rachel's house and when I went downstairs to say hi to the kids, Gabe smiles and says "It's Grandma J"  He runs over to me and gives me a big hug and says "I'm so glad you're here". He would also randomly run by and tell me that he loves me. What Grandma's heart wouldn't melt at that? Mine does.

Mae and Clara gets to play an instrument like Gabe.

We all got to get a treat afterwards. How fun was that? Lots!

Owen's first track meet at  4 days old. This little guy will be getting used to going and going and going like the energizer bunny. Sean is the head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Distance Coach for track, so I hope Owen likes to run:)

Rachel, Me, Owen  and Mae cheering on the team! Go Go Go!!! I could tell that the track is like a 2nd home to Mae because she had no qualms about going to the Coaches room to get grapes, bananas, apples, muffins, bagels and cream cheese. When we said "say cheese" for the picture she showed us the cream cheese that she put on her arm.

It was a good week and I'm glad that I was able to be able to help out.

If anyone was wondering... I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!

Owen is here!

I love this picture of Owen. I'm wondering if this is what he thought of the whole birth process. Or maybe it's when the Doctor said that he was going to stick a vacuum on the top of his little head to help suction him out. What ever he was thinking I bet he's glad to be out and meet his momma, daddy and big sister. Plus me of course:)

Owen was born March 16th, 2010 at 12:52 pm the afternoon after momma being in contraction labor since about 2:30 am. He was 7 pounds 12 oz, 20 inches long. The day before I had thought Rachel had called me because Larry was on the phone and I asked him if Rach had called and was I suppose to call her back. He told me yes so I tried a few times but she was't answering. I thought she had called me after her appointment to let me know how things were going. Come to find out later she did not call and she did not want to talk to anyone because of what she found out at her appointment plus just the beginning of her whole day did not start well. Or should I say her car didn't start well. I received a phone call from Misty later in the day letting me know that Rachel texted her and to let me know that she is ignoring phone calls because she was overdue, their was no progress since last week and her car is broken down. I said ok... I figured then that I had at least one more day at home before I left for where she lives. The doctor set up a day to induce Rachel if she didn't go into labor by Friday. I decided  that I was going to drive up on Wednesday so I could go to Gabe's acting performance then spend Thursday doing anything Rachel wanted to do to distract her in the fact that she was still pregnant.

      Monday evening I went to the Young Single Adult Family Home Evening and played a little bit of Ultimate Frisbee afterwards. I thought I'd better not stay to late just in case Rach called even though Rach didn't think she was going to. On the way home I got the "feeling" that I should fill the tank up with gas so I did. Got to bed and the phone rings at 5:00 am. Rachel is that you? You know how it is when you get awakened up from a phone call your brain is a little foggy plus she was crying just a bit. She said that she was in labor and I should come now. She didn't want to call me too soon or if she was having false labor but she had been on the phone with Misty and they decided together to call me. I quickly gathered the rest of my things ( I had packed a few days earlier) and got dressed and loaded up the car. I called Rachel when I left and she told me to go straight to the hospital. So I said a prayer for her, the baby and me to get there safely. As I was walking out the door Larry was walking in. I'm glad I was able to see him and give him a hug before I left for the week.
     I was able to get to her in 2 1/2 hours. I have to admit I was pretty good about not speeding until I got to the 2 lane freeway and the sun was out then I hit the gas and sometimes got up to about 80. Whew! I made it in time for the birth by a few hours even. Rachel was having back labor and Misty and Sean were taking turns rubbing shoulders and lower back. I stepped in and started taking my turn.  I'm so proud of my girl's in the fact that they have their children naturally with no drugs or epidurals. They are Superstars as Rachel's Doctor kept telling Rachel that she was. He also told her that she is doing better with out the drugs then a lot of women do with the drugs. Way to Go! Anyway back to the story. I found out when I got there that one of Rachel's best friends from Middle School on was two doors down having her baby at the same time. They even have the same Doctor. So the race was on to see who would have the little one first.
    My job was just to keep rubbing the lower back or shoulders and I found out that she didn't want any conversation or distraction of a conversation. She would work her way through the contractions and was doing great. For this labor she wasn't on Pit like her first and so their were breaks in between the contractions and it was so nice for her to regroup. Then the time came for her to start pushing. It took a few more pushes to get Owen out but as soon as the Doctor started putting on the suction cup to help him come out, because they were concerned about the cord being wrapped around his neck and his heart rate dropping, they needed him out sooner than later.  He then popped right out. Owen cried a bit at first then stopped and was blue but the nurses got him breathing right away and he did great! The poor little guy came out side ways though and he had a smashed black and blue nose. But that didn't last too long. He looks a lot like his daddy and resembles Mae when she was born too. He's a handsome little guy and I'm so thankful he's in our family!
Now the best part... Pictures!
I have to admit that I almost ( you noticed I said almost) feel like an intruder in tender moments such as these. I am so grateful to have been able to have been there. I know I'm blessed in that regard and I don't take it for granted at all.
Rachel getting to hold Owen for the first time.

Sean holding his son for the first time. He was such a support to Rachel in her labor. He didn't mind talking to me;) *wink*

Whenever a baby is born in this hospital as they are moving out of the delivery room into the room they will be staying in the dad gets to ring the chimes to announce the birth of their child. It's as simple as pushing a button but they were still pretty to listen too.

O.K. O.K. it's my turn! I'm holding my 10th grandchild. I love it! I do want to insert a comment Aria told me while I was at their house after Owen was born. For some reason she started talking about how old I was and that I was 20 years older than her mom, Misty. After a little bit though she says Grandma you may be 50 but you don't look 50 you look 42. I thanked her and told her I'd pay her later. Thanks Aria!

Owen is looking at Sean like... "ok dad do you remember how to do this?"

Mae was sooooooo excited to meet her new baby brother. She loves him and was not afraid to show him that either. Mae's other grandma was watching her until Rachel.,Sean and Owen were ready for her to come. Rachel wanted to have Mae come in by herself so they could spend time as a family and introduce Mae to Owen without anyone else there. But at the same time Grandma Mac brought Mae their were people there to draw Rachel's blood and they didn't want to leave and so I finally had to tell them that Rachel and Sean wanted to have a special family time by themselves and they needed to come back later to get her blood. It didn't work out exactly how it was planned but I sure hope it was still special for Rachel. Grandma Mac and I stayed out in the hallway visiting until Sean came to get us. And Mae was all smiles.

Is he all there?

Mae found everything was just right.

Most likely Mae is listening to her momma tell her that she isn't allowed to pick up baby brother all by herself.

Kisses and more kisses.

I love love love this picture.

Aria meeting Owen for the first time. Sweetness and love.

Misty is usually the one on the other side of the camera so I wanted to make sure that I got a picture of her holding Owen. I'm pretty sure Owen is going to love his Aunt Misty as much as his big sister does.

The next day Owen was able to go home. Yea! Now the rest of the story...

Ainsley's first week

A few pictures and and activities the first week.

Ainsley is holding her head up so well, and she is only 1 day old.

Jovie loving her little sister.

Ainsley loves her pacifier.

Sleeping peaceful in Grandma's arms while Matt and Jovie are on a walk and mommy is napping.

Jovie stayed at Papa and Grandma's house for a few days while Jovie had a cold so Ainsley wouldn't get it. I thought it was cute she was wearing my shoes.

Aunt Misty, Uncle David, Uncle Joshua and Aunt Shannon and their families got to come and meet Ainsley and welcome her into the family. Misty took some beautiful pictures of Ainsley and her family. Her cousins Nathan, Aria, Gabe, Clara, Jessica and Ethan were so excited to meet their new little cousin. It was nice to have them come home. We missed Aunt Rachel, Uncle Sean, Mae and Uncle Bud being here too.

Our long awaited Ainsley has arrived.

Yes our long awaited Ainsley arrived February 28th after waiting for her an extra 2 weeks past her due date. Ainsley was born at 1:41 am and was 8 lbs 8 oz. Poor April was soooooo ready to have her that it was actually scary to call April for fear of losing your head. Just kidding... she did amazingly well for being so far past due. But the main thing is Ainsley is here and her and April are doing well. Ainsley arrival was in no way uneventful though. I won't make you wait for a picture of Ainsley and her momma before I tell the story. Don't they look great!

I called April Saturday evening to see if they wanted to come over and have dinner with us the following day. I can imagine how miserable she must be feeling and most likely not in the mood to be cooking. I'm surprised when she tells me that they are just going to stay home on Sunday because they had been gone all day on Saturday. I get to bed about 11:30 pm and Larry comes into the bedroom with the phone on his ear about 1:08 am. saying April's on the phone and she says that you better get over to her house. I talk to her briefly and she is sounding calm saying her contractions are 10 minutes apart but they think I should go ahead and go to their house so I will be there when they have to leave. I am staying with Jovie so they don't have to wake her up. I get up and quickly get ready to go. I grab my clothes and stuff for the next day and get into the car with my pajama's still on.  I have driven 10 minutes and I get a phone call from April...

April - "Where are you?"

Me - " I am almost to the freeway, will be there soon "

April - " Something's come out of me. A bubble with lots water" (She is sounding very frightened) The Ambulance is on the way. Hurry!"

I hang up, start going faster and start calling her sisters, dad and brother to tell them to pray for her and tell them the little I know. Yes I am crying.  OH CRAP! There ahead of me is the sheriff on the freeway. I have to slow down. I figured it would be faster if I went the speed limit than get pulled over and have to tell him the story. Then I thought if I did get pulled over and told him would he do what happens in the movies and be my speeding escort to April's house or would I just get a ticket. I decided not to chance it. What was irritating is that he was only going 50 mph. I finally couldn't take it any more and I passed him going 58 mph. Finally he turned off the highway and I got to speed up only to run into another Policeman in the little city April lives in. Driving fast, crying and praying as I got to April's I passed the ambulance about a block from their house. I pull up to the curb of their house and their are still a couple of EMT vehicles there and an EMT officer came up to me to reassure me that she was going to be ok. I run in the house and Matt runs out. He needed to stay until I got there because Jovie was asleep. He runs the car seat in and he gives me a hug and tells me it's going to be ok. That is reassuring because Matt can be a worry wart too:). He tells me he'll call as soon as he can.  On the floor is a very wet towel with 1/2 of April's water sac on it. An EMT officer comes in and thankfully picks it all up to take it to the hospital. Within 20 minutes I receive a phone call and Ainsley has been born. Ainsley had the cord wrapped around her chest in an x and was not breathing. The 3 nurses delivered her and did a wonderful job of getting her to breath and do the things a new born should do. Prayers were answered. Ainsley and April are both doing good. I got several phone call updates and so I would call the family and let them know the updates. Finally we could all rest. Well, except I did forget to call Larry back once. Ooooops.

Well now for some pictures. Precious aren't they?

Ainsley is happy to be here.

First family picture. April, Ainsley, Matt and Jovie.

This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed at home... Jovie is loving her baby sister. She is going to be a good big sister.

My first opportunity to hold my youngest grandchild. I love her soooo much already and I'm so glad she's here. The youngest until Rachel's baby Owen gets here.

Papa J is loving Ainsley. We brought Jovie back to see her baby sister so Papa J got to see and hold Ainsley. April and Matt wanted to have very private time with just them, Ainsley and Jovie but since Jovie can't drive herself we got to see Ainsley too. Lucky us.

It was such a beautiful day that Jovie and I went to the park to play. Jovie loves to swing and kept saying higher.

She got to feed the squirrels peanuts.

We went to look at the ducks and she was going to put her fingers through where the geese were but I told her that they might bite her fingers so she quickly put them behind her back and kept them there.

It was a good "birth" day for their family. Welcome to our family Ainsley!