A new Paige!

After writing my last post I went in to see the Doctor. After the ultrasound the Doctor thought that our baby girl was going to be around 9 lbs 11 oz! Wow...that's a big ole' baby! So after a very painful amniocentesis (that was supposed to tell us if her lungs were developed enough to deliver, but ended up being inconclusive), my (awesome) Doctor decided to go ahead and induce me right away because apparently having a 10 pound baby isn't good for your body in later years. I guess I will find out since Griffin was just under 10 pounds when he was born!
I was induced around 3:30 p.m. on June 2nd and on June 3rd at 4:55 a.m. (my longest labor ever) Paige Joanna (middle named after my mom Joann) decided to make her appearance. At 8 lbs, 5 oz. I was happy that she didn't meet that 9 lb 11 oz the Doctor had predicted. However, 8,5 is pretty big for 37 weeks so I was happy to have her out of me!

She has a head full of black hair and doesn't look much like our other babies. She, like all my children, is gorgeous and I fell in love with her right away. I have this fear that because of this instant falling in love that I do with my children, that I may be a little like that Duggar woman. I really fear that I will never really be satisfied with the number of children I have. It's a good thing I have a sensible husband. I could easily be talked into a 5th! He, however seems to have more sense than that! Even when I read that post that I wrote last week I can convince myself so easily that it was worth every ache, pain and hormonal imbalance that it causes.
I am utterly and deeply in love with my children! All 4 of them!
I know people think I am "crazy" or "brave". Whatever you want to call it, I think it's blessed. I can't imagine my life without any of them. I do feel a sense of completeness in our home now. Rob said it best yesterday when he said "I can't explain it but I actually feel like a grown up now. Not somewhere in the middle."


Reese, Addison and Griffin tell us about every other minute how much they love their new baby sister. Reese says "She's the cutest baby I've never seen." I never thought it would be possible to love your 4th child as much as you love your first, but your heart just grows. I didn't have any expectations bringing her home. I just knew that whatever God had planned he would get us through it. We have a long way to go before we really know what Paige will bring into this family. She has already brought more love into our home... something I never thought was possible!

The End is Near

Well, the end is near. Today we find out when the Doctor will induce me. I am wondering do I now have to change the name of this blog, because mark my words, I am done being pregnant!

I do think that God does this to you so that you will do anything to get the baby out. What is "this" you wonder? Well, at the current moment, my feet have no ankles to accompany them! I pee about 5 or 6 times a night. Which wouldn't really be that bad if there was any possible way to get comfortable after I pee, but this huge belly makes it nearly impossible to get situated and by the time I do, I barely drift off and then I have to pee yet again. Laying on my back literally takes my breath away and walking up the stairs feels like walking a mile. Without all of these aches and pains and discomforts, I may be scared to death to push this baby out, but at this point, if they take this baby from my nose I will be happy, just get it out of me!

I am sure that one day not long from now, I will miss being pregnant. I will miss assisting God in this miracle. I do enjoy the little nudges and kicks. It's like a little secret language between me and the baby. She's just saying "Hey mom, I'm in here, don't get too busy and forget about me!". And who can pass up the opportunity to eat whatever you want and not feel guilty! Sure being pregnant does have its benefits. But I am nearing the end of my child baring years and I am happy to do so. Everyone says you just know when you are done and I know. This is what God had planned for our family. 4 kids in less than 5 years is good for me. I am done creating new children!

This post is intended for that day 2 years from now when all my friends are having newborns and I hold one and say "I want another one". I will hopefully (very quickly) come back to read this and remind myself that being pregnant is a long and difficult journey. The problem is that no matter how many babies I have, they will all grow up into little people and eventually adults. I am looking forward to assisting God in that miracle. The miracle of growing God fearing, loving, compassionate adults. It is afterall a miracle in this world isn't it?

Webster's Dictionary has one definition of pregnant: having possibilities of development. So with that in mind, I guess I am eternally pregnant. The possibility of development will always lie in how we grow our children!