March - Malachi's 3rd Birthday

March came and went pretty quick. Maya was due on the 10th and my parents flew out to help me. They got here on the 6th and we had a whole week to play and hang out with them before Maya made her appearance. Adrian had to work every weekday and only was able to take one day off for Maya's birth. I really did not want Maya to be born on Malachi's birthday. I think every child should have a day just for themself.

Malachi's birthday was on the 12th. It was a Saturday and Adrian was off work. On his birthday we started off going to the St. Patrick's Day parade. It was not a huge parade, but the boys got lots of trinkets and treats and had fun. There was also a carnival at the Civic Center and we let the boys go on 2 rides a piece. Then we went out to eat and let Malachi pick lunch. He chose chicken nuggets so we went to Wendy's. The boys were quite a handful at the restaurant, but we had fun :) Later that evening we had cake and ice cream. Malachi had wanted a train cake, so that's what he got. He got a few presents from us. We did not have a big party with friends because it would have been hard to plan it not knowing when Maya would be born. Adrian got a piñata for the boys to break. We ended up running out of daylight and doing the piñata another day. It was a good, fun day that I believe Malachi enjoyed.

My parents were in Florida helping us for 3 weeks. It was really nice to have the extra help while I recovered and adjusted to everything. My dad really enjoyed the fishing this time. He went fishing for snook everyday. The best time to catch them was at night so he would get up and go fishing in the middle of the night. He was able to bring home some fish and we enjoyed fish tacos. Now, I am not a fish fan at all and never eat fish, but snook does not have a fishy taste and it was pretty good and tastey. It's probably the only fish I'll eat!!

Having a fire and roasting smores.  The boys really love it. 

At the carnival at the Civic Center on Malachi's birthday. Levi is checking out the Dragon Rollar Coaster he loves to ride. He later rode on the dragon dollar coaster, but Malachi did not want to because it went too fast for him. 

Malachi rode on a train ride instead. 

Malachi got a lite brite for his birthday, along with a lego ninja flyer and a Luigi toy. 

I love this picture of his smug happy face. 

Levi chowin' down on some cake and ice cream.

Last family picture as a family of 4. Maya was born 3 days later. 

My dad and a snook he caught. They sure are tasty.

Had to get in some beach time with the grandparents. 

Had to catch a picture of these two in their matching underwear!! I have Maya in cloth diapers. 

Church Easter Egg Hunt at the park. 

Maya's Birthday

Our little miss Maya was born March 15, 2016 at 3:45 am. She weighed in at 7 lbs 4 ozs and was 20.5 inches long. Here's her birth story......

Maya's due date was 3/10/16. On the 10th I had a Dr appointment where they checked my cervix and did a non-stress test. My cervix was not dilated or effaced at all. The non stress test was to check for normal heart accelerations with contractions. Well, she ended up failing the non stress test. We did the test in the afternoon and she just wasn't active. I knew she was most active and moving in the evening so I just figured she was sleeping. Which she was. But, since she failed the test, they admitted me to the hospital for more testing just to make sure she was ok. They did another, longer, non stress test and a biophysical profile. which she passed both with flying colors. The Dr also scheduled me for induction for the following Monday, 3/14/16, if I hadn't had her by then.

Come Monday Adrian and I headed to the hospital knowing we would be bringing our little girl home. Being my 3rd baby, everyone told me the induction should go fairly quick. When I arrived at the hospital my cervix was dilated to 3 cm. I had 1 dose of cytotec put on my cervix to soften it. 4 hours later my cervix was still dilated to a 3, but was more effaced. So, I had another dose of cytotec. 4 hours after that I was still dilated to a 3 but, again, a little more effaced. At 6pm they started me on pitocin. Within minutes, her heart rate dropped, which meant her cord was being compressed and her oxygen level was dropping. At one point they had me on my hands and knees with my bum in the air and an oxygen mask on trying to get her heart rate up. A couple hours later they artificially broke my water and put a fetal scalp electrode on Maya's head to monitor her heart rate and my contractions better. She had been so wiggly that the monitor's on my belly couldn't pick up her heart rate consistently. She kept having a few heart rate decelerations. At 230 am Tuesday morning (the 15th) I was starting to get uncomfortable with pain. I had the nurse check my cervix because I didn't want to get an epidural too soon and stall labor. I was only 5 cm dilated. It was discouraging. Adrian talked me into waiting for any IV pain medication because it had the possibility of making Maya more lethargic. Well, I waited, for 15 minutes that is. That is when the pain started to get unbearable. I told the nurse I needed something for pain and we decided to call the anesthesiologist for my epidural. Since it was 3 am they had to page him to come from home. The time crept by. It seemed so long since I had asked for my epidural and still the anesthesiologist was not there. At about 340 am the pain is so excruciating that I start to cry and scream with contractions. The pain was so bad I was truly hysterical. There was one contraction I must have been extra loud because all the nurses at the nurses station and the midwife came running in saying they'd never heard me be so loud. The midwife checked my cervix and said I was dilated to an 8. She said the pain was more intense than I had ever felt with my other 2 deliveries because the piton makes the contractions more painful and intense. As soon as the midwife took her hand out of me I felt the baby drop and crown. I was desperate for something for pain and really wanted my epidural, but there was just no time. The midwife gowned up and Adrian put his gloves on to deliver her. The midwife let Adrian completely deliver Maya. It was so quick . 2 quick pushes and she was here. One push for her head and another for her body. It was so relieving when she came out. Once the placenta was delivered I truly felt pain free and relieved. Adrian stitched up my bottom and the nurses put Maya on my chest. I was so exhausted from the pain that I couldn't hold her. One perk of no anesthesia was that my recovery was super quick.

We spent 2 days in the hospital and brought her home. She is perfect. She eats well and sleeps most of the day. She seems like an easy baby. That, or after 3 babies, I've finally got the hang of what I'm doing with a little one. The boys love her. They are constantly loving on her and are very good helpers to take care of her. It is an adjustment to have one more member of the family. I don't get out with the boys with like I'm used to and I'm definitely tired all the time due to being up in the night. But, we love her so much and wouldn't have it any other way.

The boys meeting Maya for the first time. Checking out her tiny toes.

Levi holding Maya for the first time.

Getting ready to leave the hospital.

Malachi holding Maya for the first time.

5 days old. She's been very alert since the day she was born.

3 Weeks old.

January/February 2016

Here's a quick update on things we've done in January and February. I'm just going to keep it simple and update with pictures.

January-March is supposed to be the cold months here. Cold as in around 70 degrees. We pulled out our jackets and had on pants 1 or 2 mornings. But, all in all, it's not cold here. At least not the cold we're used to. 

We've had warm rainstorms. I let the boys go splash in puddles in the yard. They like to get their sidewalk chalk wet and color with it. 

I try to teach them things at home. Here they are feeding their monster letters. It entertained them for a lot longer than I expected.

Since it's not boiling hot, we've been able to get out and play. We came across an alligator on one of our walks. It's actually the very fist alligator we've come across "in the wild". This one was about 5 feet nose to tail tip. Levi threw sticks at it until he scared it away.

I couldn't keep these boys out of puddles if I tried. I always let them get wet. It's really not a big deal. I just strip them down at the truck and put dry underwear on them for the ride home.

Here's me a few days ago at 37.5 weeks. Photo credit Levi.

I hardly post any pictures of me, so here I am. I can tell just by looking at my face I've gained weight in this pregnancy. Oh well, I'm supposed to gain weight :)

Early January. Day at the beach at the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park. There were a lot of people there including a lot of surfers. Adrian and I did not get in the water. The boys did not seem to mind that the water was a bit chilly.

My first ever selfie.

Flying our kite. It's not usually windy, and this day there was not a consistent wind so it was a bit tricky to keep the kite up. The boys loved it.

Little boys go with mud.

Adrian dug a hole in our backyard and filled it with water to make a mud hole. We let our boys be boys.

Saturday matinee to see Kung Fu Panda 3. It's the first family trip to the movie theater.

We had LeAnn, Jared, Kendi and Aydri come visit us. We had such a fun time. We hit the beach every day. The first day we went to Juno Beach. The air was a bit windy and chilly. In fact the water temperature was warmer than the air. The kids did not mind. They all got in the water and bundled up in blankets afterward. We went to the sea turtle rescue center afterwards.

We went to Peanut Island one day. It was a beautiful warm day. The island was gorgeous. We took a 10 minute water taxi to get to the island. Here's some of the kids waiting to get on the ferry.

Here's Levi and Adrian at the dock on Peanut Island. The water was turquoise, clear and shallow.

There was a shallow reef that was popular for snorkeling. At high tide water from the Caribbean brought in tropical fish. There were lots of colorful fish to see and we saw a bunch of manatees. 

It was perfect for the kids to play in since there were no waves crashing on shore.

Here's part of the lagoon on the Island. It was so beautiful.

We had such a fun time with LeAnn and Jared. We played hard everyday and had to have a day to recover from all the playing. We're so glad they came to visit!

We found a new park to play at.

These boys.... I really was not surprised that they ended up naked while jumping in the sprinkler on the trampoline. I love this photo!!

The boys found a dirt pile at the park. We got yelled at for playing on it, so now we don't go there.

These boys love to collect bugs in bowls. 

It's winter and it's finally cooled down enough to have a picnic outside. 

Malachi gets sad when he misses giving Adrian a hug goodbye.

The boys playing in the rain! I love this picture!