Annabelle Faith Crocker

Our newest daughter joined our family November 15, 2009. She came into this world at 11:55 am. weighing 7lbs and 11 ozs and is 19.75 inches long. She has a smattering of dark hair and a great set of lungs. For those of you who are not freaked out by the whole birth thing, this is the story:

I had my 39/40 week prenatal appointment on Tuesday. The baby looked great, healthy and good heart rate, about 7 and a half pounds. Wednesday morning my doctor called me and said he would not deliver her any way other than c-section and dropped me from care. I scrambled, got a whole bunch of names of doctors and was blessed to find a Dr. Hall who would talk me on.

Thursday I got the chance to meet Dr. Hall. I was impressed. He was ok with me doing a normal birth. He told me I could try some Castor oil to get my body ready and maybe even put me in labor, so I picked some up on the way home. I took it that night, it certainly cleaned me out for a few hours but nothing really happened.

Friday, early morning (3 ish) I woke up with contractions. They came consistently so I let Matt know but after several hours they went away. I went on with my Friday like normal, having some contractions all day. Friday night they picked up to the point I couldn't sleep through them.

We called the doctor for advice on Saturday morning. I didn't really think the contractions were doing much, but did want to spend another night awake with them. We went into the hospital and I was right, contractions that were not really doing much. I went home with a couple of ambian and hope for a good nights sleep. By the time we got home the contractions were coming every couple of minutes and would last about 1 min each. We called for advice again and the Dr. Hall wanted us to go back to the hospital.

I still felt like the contractions were not doing much, but I was sick of having them and just wanted to sleep! They decided to keep me overnight and give me morphine to stop the contractions and see where we were in the morning. I sent Matt home and was excited to lay down for what I thought would be 6-8 hours of sleep. It wasn't to be. I woke up within 2 hours in full blown labor and had to call Matt back to the hospital. Did I mention it was snowing? We ended up getting over a foot and poor Matt had to drive in the storm repeatedly.

I labored all Saturday night, opting for the epidural around 4 a.m so that if I did need an emergency c-section that I would be able to be awake for it. We got some sleep, but was awake by 10 am. I started feeling the pressure of the baby and was told my doctor had gone home to take a shower and I would have to wait for his return. When Dr. Hall returned, it was time for Annabelle to arrive. My epidural had worn off by this point so I could tell when to push. It took about 45 minutes, but soon, baby was here. It was intense and so different to be an active participant instead of just a passive patient.

When Annabelle was born she was given to me right away and it was wonderful. Matt and I got to hold her and check her out before they weighed her and measured how big she was. Dr. Hall was amazing, encouraging and patient and it was a total God thing that he ended up being my doctor for this birth.

We are home today, we could have stayed longer in the hospital, but I knew Elie was soooo excited to meet her new sister and i just wanted to be home with my family. I am in need of sleep and a massage but feel incomparable better than I did after my c-sections. I would do this again any day over a surgical birth. Annabelle is doing well, I am so blessed that I get to be her mommy and can't wait to get to know the little person God made her to be.

Four

I can't believe my little girl is 4. I couldn't be more proud of the child she is becoming. She is kind and compassionate, sweet and funny and is such a blessing to have in our family.

For her birthday this year, she had the flu. What a bummer, but she was a trooper and enjoyed her chosen meal of waffles and eggs with a few close friends and family. On Wednesday we had a birthday party with her friends. Elie has been looking forward to this for so long. She requested a pajama party and even picked out the kind of cup cakes we should make. She had a blast. Here are some of the highlights.

40 weeks

The belly is large. The baby is about 7.5 lbs according to ultrasound. I don't feel like she is any closer to coming out than she was a month ago. Fluid levels look good, she is crazy active and perfectly content to stay where she is. I have another appointment next week, lets hope I don't make it!

The Waiting Game

One of my least favorite parts of life is waiting. I have a very strong dislike for knowing my world is going to change but having to just wait for it to happen. Like before you move, or start a new job, or when expecting a baby, transition is hard for me. I dislike waiting for things or people who don't seem to feel my sense of urgency.



My Father in heaven gets a kick out of this, I believe. At least He seems very willing to give me chances to further develop this character trait. Really, it all comes down to the "p" word...patients.



For instance, I have been blessed with a 4 year old who has 1 speed. This is not a fast speed. She has no ability to "hurry up". Her 1 year old sister is significantly faster than she is at most things and will stand at the bottom of the stairs yelling "lets go!". Most of this is age and personality, not a bad behavior thing, she is obedient and has a good attitude about doing what I ask. Eliana will be sent up stairs to get dressed for the day, 45 minutes later I come up and she is naked and reading a book. She isn't being bad, she just forgot what it was she was supposed to be doing half way through the task. I send her up to get shoes on and 5 minutes later she is standing there, bare foot, telling me about a dream she had. Her head is in the clouds, she likes to take her time, she is a dreamer and pretender. I am so glad I don't have to fight to get her out of the house several days a week for school. Yet.



Baby 3 is apparently in no hurry, either. I have everything ready, the car seat is in the car, people are on call to watch the big kids. Baby hasn't budged. I am working on my attitude about this. This is my last pregnancy, most likely. I will never again get to lay in bed and feel the little hick-ups, the big lumps that may be a foot or knee. I will never again have the excuse that the baby is the one who wants the milkshake/extra fries/Mexican food. I want this kid to be fully cooked and ready for her appearance earth-side.



When it comes right down to it, patients is really about "dieing to self" and choosing to put others first. I want Eliana to have the right to live her life at her pace, even if I find that pace highly annoying. I want this baby to have the right to stay where she feels warm and safe, knowing God has planned her birthday long before he planned the pillars of the earth. Really, it is just further proof that life isn't really about me and what makes me comfortable.

Babies Room

This is probably the first time we have ever gotten the nursery finished before the arrival of the baby. I even have clothes and diapers in the drawers. Now,when this kid finaly shows up, we are set! Except for the whole name thing...

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was well celebrated this year. We had 2 party's and 2 chances to trick or treat. we got our money's worth from our costumes! We also have an appalling amount of candy. The girls had so much fun, Elie really gets excited about holidays and Addilyn get excited about candy.

38 Weeks

Yes, I know the counter to the left tells you all I will have this baby any day now. This isn't the case, unless the little counter knows something I don't. I am only 38 weeks, 37 if you go by my doctors dates. Baby can't come this week, we have too much going on.

Monday: Meet friends at Barnes and Noble to play, lunch date with my friend Sarah, babysit Amanda's kids.

Tuesday: Halloween party #1

Wednesday: Play group Halloween party, doctors appointment

Thursday: Visit Grandma Betty and Grandpa Jon at there new place

Friday: Golden "Boo Street" with Grandma

We don't really have plans for the weekend, but next week is Elie's birthday party. So, really, I don't need this kid to come any early.

On that note, I tested group B strep positive meaning I have to get to the hospital at least 4 hours before this kid shows up so I can get IV antibiotics. If I don't get them, the baby has to stay in the hospital at least 48 hours after she is born. Not a big deal, except I have to be there too and the Hospital is closed for visitors under 18, so the girls wouldn't be able to meet their new sister.

As far as what this kids name is: Annabelle, Josephine, Genvieve, Juliette, Joella, or maybe something else we come up with between now and then. Yet another reason she needs to stay put.

When 4 year olds do your hair

Urgent Care

We went on a nice family walk last night, stopped at the park and played in the leaves on the way home. When we got home, Matt and I were making dinner in the kitchen when I picked up Addilyn. I noticed she had something in her eye...and it was big. It was a chunk of leaf! It didn't seem to bother her at all, so we decided to wait until after dinner to see if it would just wash out by itself. It didn't. Our next plan was to rinse her eye out with saline solution. That didn't work either. I was afraid to let her go to sleep with it in her eye, so off to urgent care we went.

Our Urgent care is very close to our house, they already had a file on AJ so the whole process was quick. The doc basically did what we did and used a q-tip to get it out. We left leafless and with a prescription for antibiotic drops for her eye.

I am thankful for good insurance and close medical care.

Kids

Although I am sure you are rivited by all my intellectual prowess, I figured it might be time to show off my beautiful children along with some quick updates:

Eliana: Soon to be 4, she is pretty sure she knows just about everything. Loves books, creating things, she can write her name and loves going to MOPS and bible study. Over all, a very sweet natured girl. Elie hasn't showed a lot of interest in competition or athletics stuff, but she loves to play outside. Plays very well with her sister and is a natural care taker ( and bossy as anything) She loves animal, her bed is full of them. We play pretend all day long. She is really getting into her doll house too.

Addilyn: Going on 2, is much fiestier than her big sis. Quick to lose her temper and just as quick to recover, loves to cuddle and wrestle. Would follow her sister to the ends of the earth. A natural vegetarian, still overall a lousy eater. She is a ham, loves to make people laugh (especially herself) Much more daring than big sis, is pretty sure she can conquer anything that comes her way and loves to climb. She is talking a bunch, which makes life so much easier for everyone.

Baby #3: Should be here in the next 1-5 weeks. Growing well, they think she is pushing about 6 lbs already. Head down and very active, still doesn't have a name.