A Quick Trip: Grandma's Funeral

Ethan's wonderful Grandma passed away on her 90th birthday.  She was a very special lady and loved very, very much by our whole family.  Ethan, Abraham and I made a quick trip to Utah so we could attend her funeral.  We flew out Friday late afternoon after barely making it to the airport in time for our flight.  Ethan's look of relief that the flight was slightly late in boarding!  Baby Abe did a great job on our flights.  And we got lots of looks of surprise at such a little baby.  He was 9 days old when we left. Not something I wanted to do, but every time I thought about not going to the funeral I would burst into tears.  I think lots of people judged me as they said, "You're brave" meaning more likely, "you're crazy."  But it was worth it. I am so glad we were able to be there.

My parents picked us up at the airport.  Grandpa Hoss got to meet Baby Abe!  He told me when I first told him I was expecting that he held a newborn while home teaching and he wondered if it was the last time he would get to, he was excited I was having another one so he could experience it again.  What a sweet grandpa.  Baby Abe also got to meet Uncle Sean and Aunt Heather as we stopped by their house that night because they let us use their car for the funeral.  We just had so much kindness shown to us for this trip.  We are so blessed.

All of Ethan's cousins that were able to be at the funeral and luncheon afterward.  I am so blessed to have married into such a great family.  The funeral was on Saturday, Dec. 14.

We hung out with several of his siblings that evening.  It was so fun to be with them!

I especially love this lady.  She is the best mother in law (or mother in love as we like to call her) I could have ever asked for or even dreamed of!  I'm glad she got to snuggle Baby Abe.  He was a little overwhelmed I think with all the people and noise but she loved on him and kept him mostly happy.

Erin always making a fashion statement. :)

My phone got hijacked and I found lots of fun faces from these two!  Crazy to think that they were born just 2 short weeks after Ethan and I got engaged!  They are so grown up! We've missed seeing them grow up a lot, but sure love the chance to see them when we can.

We left Utah early, early Sunday morning.  It was a super quick trip, made possible by the sweet angel family here in KY that took the other 5 kids in.  We are so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people.

FHE, Gingerbread, CC, and Cleaning (or not)...

Sometimes you just have random pictures that are just too good not to put into your family history, right?  Even if they aren't part of something that merits its own post on the blog, you just have to post it.  So there are a few randoms thrown into this post that covers about a month's worth of time.

Do you even need a really, really quick and easy activity for Family Home Evening?  Dad came up with this perfect activity... everyone make muscle poses!  The kids thought it was so fun and everyone laughed and laughed. A perfect way to end our family night.   

When Grandma came to help with the baby, the baby didn't come for a few days, so we got spoiled and Grandma bought a little gingerbread village for us.  The kids' each got their own building.  It was fun to put them together.

And after much begging, Dec. 17 they had even more fun tearing into them and chowing down.

Eliza looks like she's "not impressed."  Guess she was tired of taking pictures and wanted to eat!

The day before the baby's arrival, we went to the Cross Country Banquet and awards ceremony.  It was held at the high school, it was dark and raining by the time we were getting there (late already) but then I could not for the life of me find how to get into the high school parking lot.  I was very frustrated!  But we got there and the kids were able to get their recognition and see their friends.

I know the pictures are all blurry, but I was using my phone and we were in the very back of the auditorium and they were so excited they were moving pretty quickly.  I just wanted to say that Coach Bright was so great with the kids, especially Levi.  I think she's the reason that he started back up after taking his little break.  She always made a point of talking to him and telling him that he should be running (in a kind and loving way).  She was great! I'm thankful for people who are willing to share their talents in helping others develop their own.

In preparation for Christmas, we told the kids that we weren't going to do presents if the house was dirty.  So on Christmas Adam and Christmas Eve we all worked together to get the house ready.  Levi was especially dedicated to the cause.  Jonas, however, was not.  Here he is just looking at the rest of us working.  We had to document it.  He seriously just sat and watched... he ended up with one less gift under the tree because of it. 

I'm working on a plan to help him figure out how to work... if it doesn't work, I'm open to sending him to one of you experts to whip him into to shape. ;)

December 6-7

The morning of the 6 we talked about the baby's name.  I could tell Ethan had reservations about the name we had discussed.  So we talked some more.  My mom came in with Bolton and Eliza.  They were excited.  I think Bolton was just as excited to be in a new place as he was to see the baby.  He did keep saying, "Baby so cute!"

Bolton also found the baby's toes and did "Little Piggies."  We got some awesome video of this visit.

Trying to keep Bolton entertained and away from Mommy's belly and the baby was a little tricky.  The glasses worked for awhile until Dad realized if he wanted to keep his glasses he'd better keep them safe too...

Grandma got to be the bad guy...

He turned to mommy with his puppy dog eyes and "Please, mommy! Please!"

Eliza hasn't stopped asking if she can hold him.  Or hug him. Or kiss him.

We tried to let Grandma have some snuggle time too.

Then my brain started working and I turned on the TV.  That got Bolton's attention.

And kept it.  Even with Daddy's pestering.  It was funny.

I am so blessed.

I can't get over how gorgeous my baby is!

When Ethan got back from showering and getting ready for the day, we got back to discussing the baby's name.  We had decided on his middle name, which is my dad's name.  We wanted a strong name for his first name and one that would help him become the best man he can be.  Abraham just felt right.  We sent out the text to let people know.

My mom came with all the kids soon after.  She hadn't gotten the text yet, so we got to tell her in person.  She cried. It was cute.

The kids were all super excited to hold Abe.

And we got our first official family photo.  Wow.  We have a big family.  Looking at this makes me cry.

We opted to stay at the hospital one more night.  I'm so glad we did. I slept so well!  Between 11 and 4 he was soundly asleep I actually got up to get him at 4.  I was afraid the nurse had given him a bottle or something.  Nope, he was just sleeping.

In the morning we got ready to head home.  Abraham got to put on some clothes that actually fit him (the shirts they have at the hospital are tiny!).

We were welcomed by some happy greeters.

Abraham is really sleepy, but for some reason at night he thinks he needs me to hold him to stay asleep.  I'm sure we'll figure it out soon.  In the meantime, we are all adoring his sweet disposition and getting all the snuggles in we can.  The kids are constantly asking if they can hold him or where he is, if I've managed to hide him away in peace somewhere.

Introducing...

Abraham Dennis Woodbury

Born Dec. 5, 2012

4:22 pm

9 lbs 4 oz

21"

I just want to record the story of Abraham's birth, if the details don't interest you, feel free to skip through the words and just admire the pictures. 

As you know, Wednesday Dec. 5 was the day appointed for an induction if I hadn't had him prior.  My mom came into town on Dec. 2 and I was really hoping to go into labor between her arrival and Wed. but my hopes were in vain.  So bright and early Wednesday morning (5:30), Ethan and I headed to the hospital.  Here's a quick picture of how big I got during the course of the pregnancy.  Looking at it now, I can totally believe there's a 9+ pounder in there.

We got to the hospital a little later than 5:30, but Ethan wasn't too worried because "we're just going to sit around for awhile anyway."  A few minutes after I started checking in at the ER, a woman came in.  She was also pregnant, but she was making sounds of pain.  So, I stepped up to the lady checking me in and told her to take care of her first, she clearly had more need than I did.  So we waited.  We got taken to Labor and Delivery and waited some more.  Around 7:10 am they were done with her. She had had to have an emergency C-section.  The thought occurred to me that a C-section was a lot faster than what I was in for.  They started me on the pitocin around 7:25, the doctor checked me. I was 3 cm and 70% effaced.  I was encouraged, I don't usually get to a 3 on my own.  Maybe it wouldn't be so bad...

Ha!  He came back and checked on me around noon, I told him I didn't think there was much happening.  When I had laid down to rest for a few minutes I felt the contractions a lot more, but was pretty sure it was just the position.  I was right. There was no change at all to my cervix.  He offered to break my water or to let me wait and see if anything changes.  We opted to wait.  Breaking the water makes a big difference in the intensity of the contractions and it doesn't always speed things up.

He told the nurse to let me walk around. (Thankfully!  He had actually already said that I only needed to be on the monitor 15 minutes of the hour, but she wouldn't let me off the monitor while the pitocin was running.)  Ethan and I walked for awhile.  Then we skipped.  Then we did lunges and plie's.  While I was doing all these silly things the contractions felt harder, but as soon as I sat back down it was business as usual.

The doctor came back around 2:15 and there was still no change.  So we had him break my water.  I was stuck in bed now.  Boo.  I was crocheting during this time.  I did get up to empty my bladder about an hour later and while I was sitting on the toilet it sure felt like I needed to push.  But only then.  The nurse happened to come in while I was in there and Ethan mentioned that I'd just said that, so she checked me.  I was "just about a 6" and I was a bit disappointed.  But I did tell her that things generally go quickly once I reach 6 cm.  She said she didn't doubt it and started bringing in everything needed for the delivery.  It was so nice to be trusted!  I wasn't sure how quickly things were going, but I wasn't feeling like I needed to push yet, but the contractions were getting intense, so I asked for some meds.  I wish I hadn't.  They knocked me out, big time!  So, its kind of a blur from here on out.

disclaimer: The things I do remember from here on out are pretty detailed and probably not for everyone.  So go ahead and skip it if you're going to be offended by my TMI.

I remember saying that I needed to push, the doctor was ready and waiting and told me to go for it.  I don't know if it was the meds or the fact that it had happened so quickly or if it had to do with the fact that I was so physically exhausted but it was really hard to push him out!  I was pushing with everything I had, but it was really hard!  Then I guess I got serious, I pushed so hard.  The problem was I could feel myself tearing, not down like I had in the past, but up.  As in, toward my belly.  I screamed.  It hurt!  My doctor had a really calm voice and kept telling me I was doing a great job.  Its funny how time slows down during these moments.  It was really only 2 contractions of pushing but it seems like at least 10 minutes.  However long it was it worked, he came out.  He was here!!!  So if you're keeping track, I went from 3 cm to having a baby in 2 hours!

When I looked and saw him very first, the first thing I remember noticing was his cord.  It was huge!  I've never seen such a fat cord and it was really tightly wound in a spiral.  This picture gives a little idea of it, but it was more noticeable on the part that was clipped off by his daddy.  Ethan was standing beside me and I told him to go take pictures.  He did a good job.  The doctor had to stitch me up (tried to start once but didn't quite have me numb... ouch!).  When all was settled down and the baby was cleaned up they brought me my perfect baby boy!

As I said, I was extremely tired.  I slept off and on the rest of the day.  But I remember when I nursed him the first time he latched on like a pro.  Holding him, I told Ethan it just gets sweeter each time we have a new one.  Its amazing.

We still had to decide on a name.  We had it narrowed down to 4 names, but choosing the right one was tricky.  Ethan told me that night he didn't want to talk to me about it until I was more lucid.  So we finally talked about it and we both thought we'd try out one name and see how we felt about it in the morning.

We didn't have any cell coverage in the hospital.  It was terrible!  The only communication we had with anyone was through text or Ethan's facebook.  When we tried to talk to anyone on the phone it was interrupted by static and then disconnected.  So, when we finally talked to my mom that evening Ethan told her not to worry about bringing the kids that night since Bryant wasn't home from scouts yet and visiting hours would be over when he got back.  When he hung up I told him Levi wasn't going to like that one bit!  I was right, I later heard.  But Ethan decided to go home to get some food and thought he'd bring Levi and Jonas back.

They were excited to meet their new brother!

That night, the nurse took the baby for a few hours and we got to sleep.  Then she brought him to me and told me I could call her to come get him when I was done nursing.  But I just loved snuggling him so much I couldn't do it.  I just held him the rest of the night.  We bonded.

That was Abraham's introduction into the world.  I'll do another post covering the rest of our time at the hospital.