Our little Princess turns 2!

Happy Birthday Rayna!!!!!!

Yum!

Our Princess.

Decorations fit for a Princess.

Patiently waiting.

Making a wish.

Opening her presents.

I can't believe that Rayna is 2!

Amandine

10 days old.

3 weeks old.

6 weeks old

10 weeks old

Sister's :)

Rayna loves her little sister. She is such a great help. She has adjusted very well to having a little sister. It is so cute to watch her with Amandine. Sometimes I wonder if Rayna loves her sister too much. I am afraid that she will smother her little sister with this said love:). We are very thankful that she does love her though. It could always be worse.  It will be so much fun seeing them grow up with each other. 

Amandine's Newborn Pictures

A late Christmas

Here are some pics from our Christmas. We had Christmas late due to the fact that we were in the hospital because Amandine was born. On Christmas day my parents stopped by in the evening with a gift for each of us to open. Jared, Grandpa, Grandma, Rayna, Jeff, Amandine and I all opened a gift and visited for a little while. It was pretty weird being in the hospital on Christmas. We had a interesting carolers dressed up as Santa and his elves. I am not sure why they would visit us recovering mommies but they did. We got candy canes and then they left. I got a cute pair of earrings from one of the nurses. She handed out earrings to all of the moms. That was very nice. I missed being home for Christmas though. It just wasn't the same. It's not as cozy I guess and relaxing. 

We had Christmas on the 26th. It's a good thing Rayna had no clue that it wasn't really Christmas. We would have had a harder time if she realized we had Christmas a day late.

Amandine's Birth Story

                                                           We went to bed late tonight. I went to sleep around 12. This is because Rayna is sick:( . So Jeff has been up with her all night so I could try and get some rest. Before bed Amandine was moving like crazy!!! She has always moved so much more than Rayna. When she moves you can see my whole belly move. It's kind of crazy to see and feel. The last two nights she has been doing this between 8-10 o'clock.

                       I woke up at 2:22 a.m. December 24th and I really had to go potty. After an hour of running back and forth to the potty I realized that I think I might be having contractions. This was at 3:30. I decided that I should read up on whether or not this could be the real thing. Am I really in labor? This was the big question on my mind. (I have always had a secret fear that I would just be having braxton hicks and thought I was in real labor. Another one is to start dilating and find out that I have gone backwards.) So I got out my copy of What to expect When Expecting. To tell you the truth I could not remember how to time contractions. Jeff was the one who worried about this when I was in labor with Rayna. He was with Rayna in her room, so the task fell upon me to do. I began timing my contractions around 4. About this time Jeff came in the room to get some more medicine for Rayna. I told them that I was having contractions. He was like okay. Rayna came in for a few minuets and she saw me have about 3 contractions. She could tell that something was wrong and asked if I was okay. It was cute. Jeff went and put her back to bed. I kept checking the video monitor to see if Rayna had fallen asleep yet. From the moment that I started timing my contractions they were 2-4 minuets apart. The only problem with this is that Dr. Anstine told me to go in when they were 5 minuets apart because this is my second baby. With every contraction I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I counted 1-2-3-4-. After timing my contractions for about 40 minuets I knew I was not going to make it to the hour mark to make sure that they were consistent. At 5 I could not wait any longer. I checked the monitor and Rayna was asleep. Finally! I went in her room and kicked sleeping Jeff's foot. He looked at me and I said that it was time to go. Now. He followed me to our room. I preceded to tell him where the hospital bag was and what else he needed to grab for me. He took me upstairs while he packed. I called the on call nurse to check to see if I could come to the hospital before an hour was up on timing my contractions. Yes I called them a little after 5. They left a message for the on call Doctor. The doctor was not answering her phone at home and was supposed to be there. While I sat upstairs for  about 30 minuets,(yes Jeff hadn't packed yet) I got a call back from the doctor. This was at 5:40. She said that I should get to the hospital. She was probably thinking crazy pregnant lady. We left shortly after for the hospital.

                          On the drive to the hospital Jeff was driving very fast. I kept telling him to slow down. I didn't want him to get pulled over. I was like we don't have time to take the chance. He continued to speed. I think he was going 40-50 in a 35 mph. We made it to the hospital luckily without an escort. We parked the car and Jeff was like ok let's go. We were walking to the emergency room entrance at downtown St. Luke's. I was having a hard time walking. My contractions were intense! They were hard and long. I knew that I shouldn't be walking. I needed to be preventing myself from progressing (Never thought I would ever think this). I knew that it would ease the contractions if I stopped and leaned on Jeff and did the "high school dance pose" but I knew I didn't have time to stop. I needed to get into the hospital and fast. I argued with Jeff about going to the emergency room entrance because it was not where we were supposed to go but he won me over when he said they could get me a wheelchair. So away we walked. We got to the emergency room and they quickly got me a wheelchair and wheeled me to triage.

                         Triage is always a fun experience for me. Okay I am being a little sarcastic. I think they are a little annoying with all of their questions they ask. It's like I am in hard labor and I just want to focus on getting threw my contractions and not trying to remember my social security number. Why is it that I pre-register if you want me to answer all the questions again. Sorry my vent is over. :) Thankfully Jeff was there and he filled out the paper work they had for me. They wheeled me to a triage room. I was given a gown by the nurse and she directed me to change and to pee in a cup. I changed into my gown and began to attempt to go potty. I stopped because I had the urge to push. I went back to my room and Jeff helped me up on the bed. The nurse came back. I told her that I did not pee in the cup because I had the urge to push. I don't think she believed me at all. -    Here's a side note. I am blessed when it comes to labor. I can handle my contractions very well. I am very focused and breath threw each one. So many people have a hard time believing that I am in labor. I guess it's the lack of hysterics and screaming(if you do this it's ok. Most women do. I am just saying I am not like the norm).  Anyways, the nurse was asking me questions and I told her that we needed to get an IV in me now because I was strep b positive and I needed to get my penicillin going. I also told her I was a hard poke. She was like ok. She kept talking like there was no hurry. She took forever. She asked me some more questions and I was getting annoyed because she didn't understand my urgency to get my antibiotics. I know that I am having a baby! So let's get going already. These of coarse are my thoughts in my head. I would never voice them. She asked me what I was at my last doctors appointment. I told her that my appointment was on the 21st and I was dilated to a 3 and 90% effaced.  Once again she was like okay. I reminded her that I needed my penicillin. She then asked me, "This is your first right?" I said no that it was my second. This is when she was like oh maybe I should check you. (Really?) She proceeded to check me and was talking about nothing in particular and was like Oh your a 10!!!!( What have I been trying to tell you? I know I am in hard labor). She then began to understand my urgency. She was like I only thought you were going to be a 3. She then wheeled me to the delivery room and said we will ask you these questions later. Yes!!!!!!!!!!

                       In the delivery room I got on my delivery bed and watched as they rushed to gt the room prepped. There were 3 or 4 nurses now running around getting everything ready. They luckily got my IV in first try. The penicillin began to drip. Then they started panicking because the doctor was not at the hospital. Luckily she was. At least I knew that she was. This whole time I have been having the urge to push. It is very hard to fight this.  The nurses were like are you ready for your epidural? I was like no I am not getting one. The nurses look at me like I was crazy. Finally Dr. Grissom came in. She got all ready to deliver Amandine. The hardest part was that I had to hold the urge to push while I watched everyone standing around and waiting for at least one bag of penicillin to get into my system. I am so glad that my water had not broken yet because this would have been impossible fighting the urge to push then. I finished my antibiotics and Dr Grissom broke my water. There wasn't a too big of gush. Defiantly smaller than with Rayna. The Dr gave me the go ahead to push.

                                  Yeah!!! I was so relieved to begin and be doing something different. I pushed for almost 2hours with Rayna and I knew that I just needed to focus and just get it done. I didn't want to take that long.  I was a little nervous when they told me to push. I wasn't sure if I was doing it right. I had to ask what to do. This was the difference of not having my doula Marie there. She was able to expound on the things the doctor and nurses would tell you to do.  This whole time Jeff has been doing amazing! I was bummed that my doctor wasn't going to be here or my doula but I always knew I could count on Jeff. He is an amazing coach! I feel so blessed that he could be here with me. He was doing a great job of reminding me to drink water and just playing with my hair. He held my hand and reassured me that I was doing amazing. He reminded me to keep breathing and doing what I was doing because it was working.  After the first push I realized that it was not right. I felt off balanced. I needed to hang onto something with each of my hands. Jeff was holding my right hand. As I began to push again I felt myself looking for something to grasp with my left. A nurse came to the rescue and held my hand . It wasn't Marie like i wanted but  it helped balance me and I was able to focus completely on pushing now. After 5-6 pushes(I don't remember the exact number) and 15 minuets later Amandine Marie Head was born. It was 6:57 a.m on December 24, 2012. Our sweet little girl was born on her daddy's birthday!

                                  She came out silent unlike her sister. They had to make her cry to make sure that she was alright.  They immediately put her on my chest and I was like Jeff wants to cut the cord. I held her and snuggled while they finished cleaning me up some. Sadly I tore:(. It was a 2 degree. They took Amandine and checked her and the gave her back to me.  Then we tried nursing. I was a little nervous because Rayna was horrible at it. Luckily this wasn't the case. Miss Amandine latched on and ate for 15 minuets on both sides. Amazing!!!!!!!!

                                  Jeff took our stuff to our room and then took Amandine to the nursery to finish getting checked out while they finished with me. Around 8 they took me upstairs.  I got all settled in my recovery bed. Immediately I noticed this bed was way more comfortable.

                                Wow! I can't believe that it only took 4 1/2 hours to get Amandine here(this was a big difference from Rayna-37 hours). This is so crazy. I kept looking at the clock and saying I can't believe I just had a baby an hour ago. What a blessing. I am so thankful that everything went well and Amandine and I are healthy. We are truly blessed.

7 lbs and 13 oz
19.75 in long

The greatest present ever!-December 24

                                      This is a very special day to Jeff and I. First of all it's Jeff's birthday.  I am so thankful for this day because Jeff is a part of my life and without this day we would not be here because he would not be born.  Enough said about the man I love.

                      Today also marks the day Jeff proposed to me. We joke about how he decided to propose on his birthday so he wouldn't forget the day he propose. In reality I think he proposed on his birthday, Christmas Eve, because he would be getting the greatest present ever.....me. I don't say this to be full of myself. I am defiantly not like that. I am not one to toot my own horn. I think he couldn't imagine anything better than the thought of me saying yes and planning forever together.





                     Today is also very special because we received the greatest gift there is to receive...... Our second child was born today. Amandine Marie Head. We are so thankful for this little girl is in our lives. We are very glad that Heavenly Father has trusted us with one of his spirit children. We feel so blessed.

                    I have decided that this is the best present I could ever give Jeff. I am not planning on repeating this anytime soon. I also don't think i could ever planned this unless I really wanted to (a c-section).

   Anyways, We are in love..............

Celebrating Jeff's Birthday

Happy Birthday Jeff!

I can't believe it, You're 28! Well tomorrow. We ended up Celebrating Jeff's birthday a day early because he had to work on Christmas Eve. Then after work we were supposed to go to his sisters for his family dinner. Little did we know that was not the plan Amandine had for us.