Ainsley's 2nd Brithday

Ainsley Shay turned 2 on August 9th this year and what a firecracker she is!

This girl constantly keeps us on our toes. She is a little spitfire with the energy of a puppy and the toughness of a rock.   She is Miss Independent to a T! She straps her sandals on all by herself and insists on getting dressed by herself though she eventually cries for help in the end (about 15 mins later).  She is the shortest of our girls in terms of percentile, but she sure is out to prove she can hold her own.  I love that about her, even if she physically hurts me unintentionally because of it. ;)  She is a cowboy boot and pig tail wearin' kind of gal and we love it.  Aside from her tough side, she has a big heart.  She loves her baby sister so much that she physically cannot contain it.  She gives rough hugs and powerful kisses that may bring her baby sister to tears but they are filled with pure love.  Yes, she still is a little jealous of the baby, however, her love trumps the jealousy.  Usually. ;)

We did a simple and small (as small as my family gatherings get) party at Neptune Park near our home and had cupcakes, because that is what she wanted. 

 

Emery Jane Dopp

Emery Jane Dopp

Born April 17th, 2014 
@ 9:07 am

7 lbs 13 oz
19 1/2 in long

In the Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, UT.

  Proudly announcing the arrival of our third beauty of a daughter, little Emery Jane!
 I can NOT believe that we are parents of THREE girls. :)

Emery's story turned out to be a little different than her sisters' and a little unexpected.  Despite the size of my tummy, Emery came out as our biggest baby so far!  My other two were around and exactly 7 pounds. Now looking back, it's plausible that she was that big because it felt like things were tighter in me more than usual; there was barely room for her, my stomach, and my colon. Haha. No wonder I had bad heartburn and digestive problems the last 5 weeks of pregnancy. (NOTE: I'm sorry if I am a little too descriptive in my writing. I am first and foremost writing this story for my own personal record and secondly, for any other woman out there that may be going through the same thing and could benefit from my experience. Any other person need not read it if it is too descriptive or personal. This goes for all my birth stories and experiences.)

It started at about 3:30 the morning of the 17th (which was the only day that week I did NOT want to have her because it is my niece's birthday already who is two years younger). I woke up with some very uncomfortable contractions. At first I thought I was having bad constipation again. I thought that because the pain was mostly in my lower back and then expanded to my lower abdomen.  I didn't think it was true contractions at first because I had never gone into labor on my own before.  The doctor said that it would probably happen quick if my water were to break.  I remember this as I was sitting on the toilet with the pain not subsiding.  I was a little more wet than usual and there was no color. I thought maybe this could be just a sign I was a step closer to labor but not actual labor (one sign is extra vaginal discharge).  I changed my undergarments and went back to bed to try and sleep through them. When I couldn't, I started to time them.  The contractions were about 7 minutes apart and fairly consistent in intensity.  About an hour later and another bathroom break where I found myself damp again, I woke up Kory. I first just woke him for moral support but then after the next contraction, I said, "Yep! It's time to go!" I texted my mother-in-law, who was in Layton, and my neighbor who came over to be at the house while our other two children slept (that was our plan if this happened which I thought WOULD NOT). We left the house at about 5:15am.  As I sat in the backseat of our Corolla, I already decided I wanted the epidural (as opposed to going natural like I did with Ainsley).  This time around, I hadn't prepared myself as well: I wasn't ready to be pregnant to begin with, I hadn't listened to any of my Hypnobabies tracks, I had had a lot of pain already from constipation for the last 5 weeks, etc. All in all, I just wanted some relief finally.  When we arrived at the hospital (about a 25 minute drive), I got the natural birthing room but immediately demanded the epidural.  It was strange, because I thought I would be able to manage the pain better, but now I realize that I was also having back labor- which I did not experience last time.  It was painful and not easy to relieve.  I couldn't even tell Kory what I needed because I didn't realize what it was.  It took only a half hour to get the epidural in me, however, it seemed like forever.  The pain was constantly increasing, and I knew what that meant.  I probably could've delivered her two hours earlier without the epidural because I believe it slowed down the labor, but again, I just really wanted relief this time.  The doctor I requested was currently at the AF Hospital on his regular shift, and because the nurse called him, he came running to my delivery.  Dr. Lamoreaux was too slow last time that he practically missed the Ainsley's birth. Last time, I went really quick: 3 hours from when they broke by water to baby being born.  So this time, he said when he heard it was me, he knew he had to run, because if he missed another one of my baby's birth's he would never hear the end of it. Which is true. ;)  This time around, probably because of the epidural, my labor lasted about 5 1/2 hours from start to finish (3:30am-9am).  Many thanks to Dr. Lamoreaux for sticking around 2 hours after his shift ended just to deliver my baby. When it came time to push, I pushed for less than 3 minutes and she slid right out. That part was nice. :) It was calm and peaceful and was a completely different than going natural. (During the final phase of labor, the pushing becomes so intense that you have no control of the pushing and it is by far the most painful part of the labor.)  Though both experiences were different, they both have their benefits.

Cute big sisters meeting baby.

 Excited big big sister.

 Happy grandma Teresa

  Papa and Nana meeting baby Emy.

NICU Experience

What happened next was completely unexpected.  When Emery was born, one of her nostrils was smashed and her airway was practically cut off; from the moment she was expelled she had trouble breathing.  We thought it would be no problem once she got cleaned up, but that was not the case.  Each night she struggled to breath through her nose and was forced to use her mouth.  *Notice: Babies are not born with the ability to breath out of their mouths - only when absolutely necessary like crying.  Here's a video of how she was breathing...

Scary, right? And this is her breathing good.  Anyway, she was born on Thursday and by Friday night I was really getting concerned.  I had mentioned to my nurses that I was worried about her breathing and they each reassured me that the saline drops would do the trick.  I mentioned the problem to the pediatrician when he visited and he prescribed Afrin baby drops to help with possible swelling. (Afrin is not recommended after 4 days, however, because it could then cause the reverse effect. Scary thought.)  By Friday night I told my nurse again that I believed there to be a real problem with Emery's breathing.  They took her to the nursery reassuring me again that they would try a humidifier and not to worry, so I slept.  The nurse brought her back around 2am to feed her and she didn't sound much better.  At 6am Saturday morning, the nurse returns with the worse words a new mother could here: "We had to take your baby to the NICU..." She continued, "because we couldn't get her breathing under control."  My heart sunk from my chest into my stomach.  As the nurse explained the protocol in this situation, I tried to keep myself calm, but after she left the room I lost it.  I began to have a panic attack - I started to what felt like hyperventilating, and I began to bawl.  Kory was sweet and immediately came to hold me.  Even after I'd calmed down, I was still hysterical and could not possibly go back to sleep.  The nurse told us we had to wait an hour to see her while they got her situated. Meanwhile, I was praying constantly...I prayed as if I was going to loose her.  I told the Lord that even though I was feeling inadequate and unprepared to be a mother of 3, that that in no way meant that I wanted Him to take her away from me.  I kept apologizing for feeling selfish and not wanting to take care of 3 kids under 3.  All day that day, I repeat similar prayers.

I got dressed and walked down the hall to the NICU.  I began to cry again as the nurse caring for Emery explained to us what was going on.  All the while I was freaking out about our baby being in the NICU, I had a reassuring feeling that everything was going to be okay and that Emery would be fine.  Kory even gave her a Priesthood blessing and it said practically the same thing.  Saturday night I was discharged and forced to go home and sleep - another impossible task. I barely slept that night, 1) because I was away from my baby and 2) because I had to wake up every couple hours to pump.  Interestingly enough, I was so emotionally and physically exhausted by then that I feel asleep at 9:30pm and did not wake up until 5:00am. I called the NICU from there and they said I could finally come back and breastfeed her. Hooray! What a relief for me and the baby (If you've breastfed your children, you'd understand).  I quickly showered and left for the hospital. 

Emery ended up staying in the NICU for 5 days (Sat-Wed).  Luckily, the hospital boards mothers who are breastfeeding their NICU babies, so I was fortunate to stay the rest of the week at the hospital.  The first night I stayed in the Mother-Baby recovery area so I was close to the NICU, but since they had a lot of inductions on Monday they had to move me to the 3rd floor in Surgical to sleep - which happened to be on the complete opposite side of the hospital.  Emery improved a ton just on Sunday when I started breastfeeding her again.  But what helped most were the steroid drops they put in her nose every four hours or so.  They were used to open up her nasal passages quicker and they gave her the Afrin drops the first few days to reduce swelling.  The steroids seemed to work wonderfully, because by day 5, the only thing keeping her there was her Bilirubin levels - the last thing I was worried about. :)  By Wednesday afternoon, her bilirubin level dropped from 10.2 to 8.8 and we were cleared to go home!  What a relief. And she hasn't had a problem breathing since. :)

I.V. in her head, breathing tube in nose, and feeding tube down her throat.

 

 

No more I.V. & no more breathing tube!!!

Though I knew the challenge ahead, this was the moment I finally felt ready to be a mother of three.

The long hallway I had to walk everyday/night.

Emy's NICU bed: 16.
My saving grace while staying at the hospital was any chocolate ice cream I could get a hold of, haha. (That and Cherry Pepsi) ;)

Emery's vitals on the Right.

Her empty bed = as it should be. :)


I learned much from this experience.
It was one of those experiences you are grateful for afterward because of what you learned, yet, you would never want to go through it again!  From the moment Emery entered the NICU, I was constantly praying inside.  Half of the time, I didn't know what to say or ask for, so I would just thank the Lord for everything good that was happening.  For some reason, it was easier if I just started thanking Him for what was going right instead of chastising Him for what was going wrong.  Strangely, the only thing I could feel throughout the week ended up being Gratitude.  By the third day, the feeling hit me that I was finally ready to be a mother of three.  I was extremely nervous before about taking care of three kids under 3 until I was holding Emery one evening...all by myself in her little NICU corner (see pic above).  I had been calmly praying and I was overcome with peace.  All of a sudden, I felt calm about raising all three.  Not that the situation had changed or my fears were gone, but that I could do it with heavenly help.  From that moment, I was ready.  

GOING HOME!!!

Traditionally, we name each of our children after a person our child can look up to; someone we feel they can emulate.  With Emery, we chose the middle name "Jane".  Jane is the middle name of Kory's grandma, Cheryl Fullmer, as well as the middle name of my great-grandma (my mother's father's mom), as well as the middle name of my mom and sister. In other words, it is a family name.  We chose Jane in honor of Kory's grandma mostly.  She has many honorable qualities that we admire.  She is hard-working, disciplined, frugal, and kindhearted. We pray that our little Emery can grow to emulate these divine qualities. Thank you Grandma Cheryl for being a wonderful person on this Earth. :)

Note: MANY THANKS to my wonderful mother-in-law for taking care of our older two children during this NICU week of craziness! You are a life-saver and we are eternally grateful for you and your selfless service to us!!

Pregnancy #3

Pregnancy #3 in a nutshell:

17 Weeks

(showing 2 weeks sooner than the last two babies)

22 Weeks

IT'S ANOTHER GIRL!!!

25 Weeks

 Gone shooting at 24 weeks (in Saratoga Springs).

 My pregnancy guilty pleasure...Double Chocolatey Chip Frappachino from Starbucks (and Chocolate Ice Cream).

27 Weeks (Not a maternity shirt)

 28 Weeks and still working out strong with my MMA Class at the Newport Sports Club.

Benefits to continuously working out through preganacy: Less heartburn, better sleep, no leg cramps (so far), and I have more energy throughout the day. Not to mention, I am happier emotionally. :)

 30 and 31 Weeks
(Most of the photos were taken to be send to Kory's sister, Shelby, who's on a mission because she asked for pics. I really don't like taking pictures of myself and this is the only kind of selfie I take)

 

32 Weeks  (Really feeling pregnant now...My MMA class is getting hard, but still going)

34 weeks

 35 weeks

Progress at 36 week appointment:

2 cm dilated, 70% effaced.

37 weeks

Hey, my hoodie still fits. ;)

Progress at 37 weeks appointment:
3 cm dilated, 90% effaced.

Doc says if my water breaks, I have to "run" to the hospital. ;)
Since I had a 3 hour labor after they broke my water with Ainsley, I believe that would probably be good advice. (If I want my aunt (nurse) and doctor to be there that is. I could always have the baby on my kitchen floor.) ;)

38 weeks
At "Baby Animal Days" in Wellsville, UT over Conference weekend.

 I officially stopped going to my MMA class temporally. That class will have to wait, but at least I can still do some home exercises and take walks. 

This has been my best AND worst pregnancy so far. "Best" because I have kept from gaining excess weight by eating healthier and better and continuously exercising (except for the first 3 months because I was so dawg-gone sick).  The "worst" because these last 5 weeks I have had the worst digestive problems.  A lot of things can make me sick (nauseated) as well, and I really have to be careful what I eat and how much.  

39 weeks! One to go!!!

I'm scheduled to go in to Timpanogos Hospital to have my water broken (like I did with Ainsley) on Monday, April 21st. (With Dr. Lamoreaux)
But we'll see if she decides to come a different time!