Alexis Kathleen Hayes

We went to the hospital Monday, August 8th, at 5 am, to be induced. When we got to the hospital I was at a 2 and 80% effaced. They monitored me for about an hour before they stared the pitocin, to make sure Alexis would be able to handle being induced. About 7:15 they started the pitocin. They checked me again and I was at a 3. I knew I wanted an epidural, but I kept debating on when I should get it. The contractions were starting to come, but they were not that bad. About 9 am my doctor came in and broke my water, I decided that I needed the epidural.

I got the epidural about 9:30, and I was still at a 3. Alexis's heart rate started to dip, so I had to lay on my left side. The nurse told me that the epidural worked with gravity, so that my left side might be pretty numb, but that my right side might not be. About 10:45 they checked me again and I was at a 5. My left side was really numb, and luckily my right side was still numb.

Around 11 I thought I could feel the contractions, and I was getting nervous. I started to feel the urge to push. I called my nurse (whom I loved) and sure enough I was at a 10. I had gone from a 5 to a 10 in about 15 minutes. My doctor was seeing another patient and I was told he would not be there for about 5-10 minutes. Every time a contraction came I wanted to push, it was so hard not to. The nurse kept telling me not to push, it took everything I had not to push. I felt like she was just going to come out on her own. My doctor got to my room about five minutes later, and I stared pushing at 11:15. Alexis was born at 11:24. It took three sets of pushes to get her out.

I only put on 20 lbs with this pregnancy, and I was quite a bit smaller, than I was with the boys. My doctor thought she was going to weigh around 7 lbs, so when we found out she was 8 lbs. 3 oz. and 20.5 inches long we were all surprised. My entire labor was 4.5 hours. What a blessing Alexis is on our lives.

She has such a different temperament than our boys, she is so calm, and sleeps really well. Jack just adores her. He asks to hold her all of the time, and wants his picture taken with her. He told me that he was going to take care of her, and I could take care of West. West is not quite sure what to think yet.

I'll post more pictures soon.

Mom vs. Beast

Since I have been put on partial bed rest, due to high blood pressure, this past month has been pretty challenging. I know it has been really hard on the boys, because I just can't do as much with them. I am supposed to stay out of the sun as much a possible, so taking them outside is not really an option. I have had help from friends and family, but I can tell they are craving my attention, and doing anything to get it.

Yesterday was a long day. After yelling and crying most of the morning, I decided it was time to put the boys down for a much needed nap. Jack has recently learned how to climb down from the top bunk, and he was not to keen on the thought of taking a nap. He kept climbing out of bed and playing with West, so I moved him to my bed. I told him to stay in bed and not to touch anything. About an hour later he came out of my room and said, "I took a good nap." I noticed he had pen all over his arms and legs, so I went to investigate my room, and found a disaster.

Jack had found and broken my real pearl necklace that Aaron had given me, he ate a whole tube of my chap stick, he also ate a red sucker that Aaron had in his drawer, on our comforter, making a huge mess. He could tell I was not happy with him and so he said, "Oh I'm sorry mom."

I did not know what to do with him, I was so mad, but did not raise my voice and stayed pretty calm. I had to give him a shower to get all of the pen off of him, then I fed him dinner, and sent him to bed at 5. So of course he screamed until West came to bed at 7. A little while later, I heard a scream coming from the boys room. I opened the door and West was screaming bloody murder. Jack had taken a wooden toy and thrown it at his head. Again Jack looks at me with a smile and says, "Oh I'm sorry mom."

As if that was not enough I go and check on the boys a couple of hours later, and find ALL of their toys thrown all over the floor in their room, along with the stuffing from Jack's pillow, which he ripped open. I took all of the toys and put them up high, and took what was left of Jack's pillow away from him, and told him he lost it. After they had finally fallen asleep I went to check on them, and Jack had taken West's pillow and was fast asleep on it. I am so glad that not everyday is that bad!

In fact my sister Jocelyn saved me and took Jack this afternoon, and he is spending the night at her house. It is a good thing that I love my little beast, and if I am lucky I think my necklace might be covered under kay's protection plan.

Dreams

Jack told me that last night he "dreamed of wonderful stuff." I asked him what his dream was about, and he said "princesses and make-up." He then replied that most of of the his dreams are bad and about scary dinosaurs. Oh dear.

Long time no blog

Not a lot has happened since the last time I posted. West is walking like a pro and talking really well. I am 32 weeks along, time has gone by so fast, probably because I have been so busy. Jack is a chatty Kathy, he talks more than any girl I know. I often have to tell him to take a breath, but I do love him! Aaron is still working at Wasatch, and loving it. Here are some pictures from the last little while.

Super hero Jack

Aunt Anne came to visit after her knee surgery

Dino Time


Making scones for dad on Father's day

Kind of a scary smile

New hair


Handsome boys

West and Mom

Almost 20 months...... and he is Walking

West has started walking! He has been working with a physical therapist for about three months, and started walking about a week ago. It makes me so happy to see him walking around the house. He is so much happier, and loves chasing Jack around.




Here are some pictures from recently:

Maga got the boys shirts from her trip to Florida.
Jack's new smile, tilting his head all the way back.

Saturday we went to Bridal Veil Falls

Jack and Dad

West loved his new found freedom!

Mothers day was so nice. Aaron got up with the boys, and and made breakfast with Jack. Jack also got to sing in sacrament meeting, and had his first talk in primary. He did a wonderful job! Aaron then grilled Steaks for dinner. I was definitely spoiled, and loved every minute of it!

Mother's day morning

Jack making Hash-browns

Sunday Attire

I could not get the boys to smile

26 weeks. And West is very happy!

Easter

For Easter this year, we had an Easter egg hunt with a family in our Branch on Saturday. There were 6 kids, but about 100 candy eggs. We went a little overboard, and now we have tons of candy, but they all enjoyed it.

Jack filled his basket 4 times

Getting loot!

Sunday morning the boys got their Easter baskets.

We were having a fun Easter morning, until West stuck a sweet tart bunny in his mouth, and swallowed it without chewing. He started coughing, and was having a hard time breathing. He then began throwing up, but still could not get the candy out. We could tell he was in a lot of pain, Aaron hit him on the back a couple of times, and West was able to breath better, but the candy was still stuck. He kept coughing and throwing up, but was eventually able to breath a little better. Since he was breathing ok now, I just held him, he looked so tired, after about thirty minutes he threw up again. We called the doctor and they told us the candy should dissolve, and just to keep an eye one him. Finally about an hour and half after he popped the candy in his mouth, he had his energy back and was playing with Jack. I don't know if I am ever going to buy that candy again for Easter.

The boys in their new ties

Chair Spin

Today I spent about thirty minutes spinning the boys in our computer chair. Jack kept asking me to spin them faster, and then would promptly, say slow down. West was just enjoying himself, he was laughing and singing. Jack and West are similar with their temper, but quite different other wise. West is our dare devil, and well Jack is kind of scared of everything.

Jack freaks out when:
-He gets a drop of water on him, he completely strips his clothes off
-He gets the slightest bit dirty
-He goes swimming, or goes down a slide
-A bug comes any where near him

We are hoping West will cure him. West gets into anything and loves being dirty. Saturday he tried to eat a rollie pollie, and constantly eats dirt. He will leap off the couch, jump into the water (from his bum, cause he is still not walking) and loves wrestling. It is funny how different they are.

This was right in the middle of a spin, they both look high, or sick

The boys each take a couch and play cars, almost all day

Aunt Anne visited a couple of weeks ago.

Trying to do a summer salt

Jack has been singing a song lately:
"Spank my booty, spank my booty, give me a kiss, and then spank my booty."
I asked him who he learned it from and he said, Aunt Anne First, then his Sunday school teacher, and then my sister Breanna. It is really funny to hear him sing it.