Charlotte Dawn- Birth Story

Oh, where to begin, On Sunday March 12th we went to church & i had been having contractions for the past few days just nothing closer than 15 minutes apart, if that. We had done our regular routine walking around the block for the kids to see the horses the past week and a half but I decided I was tired of feeling crappy so we were going to walk from our house in La Verkin to my mom’s house in Hurricane (4 miles) instead of driving for lunch to see if we could speed anything up. My contractions were getting closer together & more extreme/intense but still not super close. I had a few pretty intense contractions on the walk over that I had to stop walking & breathe until it was over. After we ate I was feeling super sick so I told Adam we should just go over & get checked to see where I was. (At my last appt 4 days earlier I was at a 4 & almost 100% effaced) We arrived at the hospital around 5:30 & got checked/got registered. I was at a 5 & the contraction monitor was picking up contractions about every 5 minutes apart. They decided to admit me! After we got into the room they checked me again &I was at a 6 & my contractions were getting a lot more intense & were about 3-4 minutes apart. We called Shauni to come over & get ready to take pictures at the birth. They called the anesthesiologist to come give me my epidural. He was super quick & had me feeling great before I knew it! The nurses & Adam joked with him that they bet that was his record for fastest epidural ever, he was in & out in about 4 minutes! (It was nice to not feel those horrible contractions anymore that were every 3 minutes) After getting checked I had stayed about a 6 for an hour so they called the midwife & she had them start me on Pitocin. (My normal OB had left town for spring break Saturday for a week long vacation, so I missed him delivering our baby by 1 day) After starting the Pitocin things started progressing pretty quickly. The nurse came to check me about an hour after starting the Pitocin & I was at a 9. The nurse said she would call Katie the midwife & have her come over & that she would come back in 20 minutes to check me again. About 5 minutes later I started feeling pressure every 3 minutes (I felt like the head was coming out) so had Adam call for my nurse to come back & check me. She walked it, lifted my blanket to check me & said yup, you are at a 10 & babies head is right there! They started to get the room ready for delivery & said Katie would be there any minute. Once Katie was there she started to get her gown & gloves on. The nurses wasn’t joking when she said she could see the baby’s head because I coughed & Katie said "Hey, no more coughing or laughing because I am not ready to catch the baby yet!" Her head was pretty much coming out on its own. It was time to start pushing. One & a half pushes later our baby girl was here!!  This was by far my easiest & fastest delivery yet! I am worried the next one will come before I can get to the hospital because with each baby labor has been cut in half. Starting with a 12hr labor with Berkley to a 6hr labor with Ryker to a 3hr labor with Charlotte.

Side story about naming our little girl:
We had 2 names picked out for our little girl when we got to the hospital but couldn't narrow it down until we saw her. I have always loved the name Charlotte & from about age 12 I wanted to use it when I had a little girl. When we saw her for the first time she looked just like a Charlotte to us.  Adam lived with his Aunt Charlotte during his high school years & from the first time I met her she after we started dating & got married she became so special to me. She was one literally one of the greatest blessings for me while I was away from home in the beginning of our marriage. If my Charlotte grows up to be anything like her Great Aunt Charlotte then she will be a wonderful lady! Charlotte's middle name Dawn, comes from another wonderful woman in our lives. Adams grandma Orrock. She was another lady who welcomed me into the family with open arms. She is such a special lady &  I hope Charlotte Dawn gets to know her! 

Hopefully my next post is sooner than another birth story! haha 

In the hands of the Lord

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on here but I am finally ready to share this news & I felt like this was the perfect place to do it so I can have it documented in a permanent place. I am not posting this to get attention by any means I just need to get it off my chest!

This all happened about 3 months ago. I found out I was pregnant (8 1/2 weeks to be exact).  I had taken 2 pregnancy tests just to be 100% sure, both of which were positive & life was great Adam & I were both thrilled!  I wanted to wait a while until I was further along to share the news with family & friends. I woke up a few days later & I had begun to bleed. I didn't get too nervous but thought I would just wait it out a few more days to see if it would stop. Three days later I was still bleeding super heavy so I made an appointment with my doctor & had a pregnancy test ran/lab work done. The test came back negative & the labs showed that i was indeed having a miscarriage. I was devastated!!  Now I wasn’t going to be able to announce a pregnancy but i was going to need to tell family that I was going through a miscarriage! The bleeding continued a few more days & then I started cramping for a few more days after that. I wasn’t going to tell lots of people about this due to its very personal nature but I have had way to many people lately telling me that I should already be pregnant because my kids won’t be two years apart anymore or that I needed to have more kids asap. Each & every time my heart breaks & it’s like the wounds are re-opened again!! I wish so bad I was still pregnant & that a baby would be joining our family in June  but there is not & I have finally come to terms with that! I absolutely hate to feel needy or talk to people about personal issues, especially ones very near & dear to my heart. This miscarriage made me broken! I know that I could have done a better job of seeking out support or someone to talk to (especially family-mom, sisters, etc) but at the time, it hurt too bad. I would recommend anyone who has a miscarriage find someone to talk to, don’t bottle it up inside like I did! You are not alone-others have experienced the same thing. In the very beginning I didn’t tell many people about the miscarriage. I told immediate family & my best friend. I guess I was just scared of breaking down & crying in front of others when telling them. I took this picture from a friend who also went through a similar experience. It really tells it like it is.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me push pass this trial in my life & become a stronger person! I am also grateful that my testimony of the power of prayer has grown as I have pleaded with the Lord to help comfort me & bring me back to my normal self. I have faith that Heavenly Father will help our family grow in His own time as for now we will patiently wait for that & enjoy every minute with our perfect family of three!! 

Family Pics & B's 1st B-day Pics

We had my amazing cousin Kortney take our pictures. Here are a few of my favorites (a few might be 30 or more) I can't believe that its almost been a year since we became of family of 3 & welcomed our sweet little girl Berkley into our life! She is such a blessing in our life & we are smitten!!

BIG MUSCLES

 LOVE THIS ONE

 LOVE HER FACE IN THIS ONE

 LOVE HER TEETH

 LOVE HOW SHE PROPPED HER ARM UP ON HER CAKE LIKE THIS! HAHA

IN A MINUTE SHE CAN THROW A TANTRUM & SMILE/LAUGH HER HEAD OFF.. DRAMA GIRL

 FAVORITE FAMILY PICTURE

 DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL

 MOMMY'S ANGEL

 SHE THINKS SHES SO BIG

 SHE REALLY DOES LOVE US & OUR KISSES I PROMISE

 LOVE THIS PICTURE

 SHES GOT HIM WRAPPED AROUND HER FINGER

Weekend Happenings

So I am going to try & post at least once a week on here.... fingers crossed I will actually stick with it more than a few weeks!! 

Friday:

 I received a tearful phone call from my mom telling me that Doug Haws had passed away! I cannot even begin to express the heartache & sadness I felt hearing that news. Doug has always held a special place in my heart. He has always been the best adopted grandpa & one of the all around sweetest men I know. When I first introduced Adam to him a few days after we got engaged Doug (oxygen on & all) gasped out this to Adam "if you ever hurt or disrespected her, you will answer to me!!" He not only loved me but he loved my sweet little girl too! I remember going over about a week before he passed away & Berkley actually let him hold her for about 2-3 minutes (all of you who know B know that this is a HUGE deal, she is terrified of old men, actually any man other than her dad for that matter) So when I heard this news I was devastated! He will be greatly missed by many!! But I am glad he is no longer in this world suffering anymore! I know he is in Heaven watching over us!! We love you Grandpa Doug!! 

Saturday:

Onto a happier note, Carolee (Spendlove) & London (LeBaron) were both blessed by their daddy's! It was a great day & these 2 little girls are going to be some of Berkleys best friends growing up!! Glad we got to spend the time with family!!

L-R Carolee (1 month) & London (3 months)

Skyler & his sweet little girl! I always looked forward to the day he would get his little girl after seeing how good he was with Berkley!! She is one lucky girl to have him for a dad!

The 4 Spendlove Grandkids! (& 4 of the Stephan Grandkids haha)

I love Berkleys spunky personality that she is totally starting to love everyone down here now that she is getting used to everyone!!

Sunday:

And in Relief Society she actually let my other mother Lisa Stratton hold her (even when she saw me sitting near by) & she let Lisa bounce her to sleep!! We are making progress ladies & gentlemen!! Progress I tell you!! :) Can't wait to hang out with the family again today!! I love being close to family!!!!

Miracles

About a week before we moved down to Hurricane, Adam was gassing up the car & a man approached him saying he was on his way back to Ogden & his wallet was stolen & he needed just a little bit of gas to make it the rest of the way home, he then said asked for our address to send the money to reimburse him for the gas. Adam being the Christ-like person that he is filled up the mans tank with no intentions of receiving anything from the man. About 2 weeks of being in Hurricane we got the mail & inside was a letter addressed to Adam from a man who lives in Ogden with a thank you note & a check for the exact amount of gas Adam had put in his car.
Although this doesn't sound too miraculous, we received this check at such a perfect time. Adam quit his job up north the week before finals because he needed all the extra time for studying for his intense finals. And when we had moved down south he had been jobless for 2 weeks already. When we got the check Adam was going on a month without a job. It was so frustrating seeing him go to interview after interview & never hear back from anyone day after day, week after week. He is such a hard worker that anyone would be lucky to have him but no one had been kind enough to get back with him & bills were coming up, diapers needed to be bought, fees needed to be paid for applications for school. The check was a blessing because it covered the thing we need to pay the soonest, exactly to the penny.
As of this week he has a couple of side jobs that he is doing in hopes of finding something that not only can help him support his family but that can work with him for the summer & throughout school. We are truly grateful for the many people who help us out financial by letting Adam wash your windows, parents for letting us live in your house & for buying a box of diapers for us when we are in need. We will never be able to thank you enough or pay you back the amount you have helped us save.

Miracles happen!!

DIY Turbans

So I had a couple of ladies ask me on Instagram how to make the turban I had on Berkley yesterday so I decided it would be easier to post instructions on here instead of on Instagram! Hopefully these are easy enough instructions if you have questions though don't hesitate to ask!

Step 1: Choose material
Step 2: Measure your child's head (or yours if you are making it for you!) You will double the length of your child's head to make sure you have room for the double knot to be tied on top. (to be safe once you have cut it like the picture below tie it onto your child's head & adjust it by trimming off some of the edge so it isn't too long of ties)
Step 3: Lay material in half so right side out pieces are touching (like the picture below).

Step 4: Depending on how wide you want it cut material like picture above with the slanted egdges (facing the same way) I wanted the one i made for Berkley to be about 1 1/2 -2 inches wide so i folded my material in half to be a little bigger than the desired thickness (a little bigger cuz you gotta save a little room for the seam) Once it is cut then iron around the edges to help make sewing it a little easier

Step 5: Now you will begin to sew it together from about 1 inch from the middle all the way to the end (like the picture above, back stitching at both sides. After you will do the same thing on the other end from about an inch from the beginning of the last once. (leaving about an inch or just a little less in the very middle so you can turn it right side out & before you close it) Make sure you trim the tip off of both edges like i did so you don't have too much extra material in the tip & so you get a more pointy tip!

 Step 6: After you are done sewing it you will turn it right side out so the design is no longer inside out. (like pictured above)

 Step 7: Iron it flat
Step 8: Once it is ironed flat go back & hand stitch or machine stitch the center where you left an opening to turn it right side out closed & you are done!!

Step 9: Tie it in a double knot on your sweet baby or yourself & ta da!! You made a turban!! :)

p.s. I am horrible at making step by step instructions!!!!!

Yes, I am still alive

I can't believe its been 9 months since I posted on here, but my sisters talked me into keeping it updated so here it goes!!
Updates:
-We moved to Hurricane about a week ago & have been unpacking for what seems like an eternity... still no light at the end of the tunnel but hopefully soon. We are living in my in-laws home here & they are living back in Tuba City.
-Berkley is 9 months old & crawling everywhere getting into everything, but I love it!!! She no longer has to go to her GI Specialist in Provo & she is gaining weight slowly but anything is better than losing weight. She is in the 2% for her weight, 3% for her height & 85% for her head (she is gonna be a smartie :) haha) We still struggle with feedings (just behavioral problems) & is almost sleeping 100% through the night!
-Adam has transferred to SUU & will start their Integrated Engineering program (at the 2nd half of the sophomore year) in the fall. Hopefully soon he will hear back from the jobs he has applied for & that he will get one of them that he really wants! (ATV tour guide)

I will post some pictures of the house we are in & of Berkley in my next post!!

Berkley is FINALLY here!!

Our sweet little princess is finally here. We are completely in love!! 

Berkley Lola Stephan

8/3/13 born at 1pm

6lbs 6oz 19inches long

Birth story & more pictures will come soon!! 

23 Weeks

--How Far Along: 23 weeks & 5 days
---Size of Baby: Weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces & measures about 10.5 to 11.8 inches from head to toe. This week she's forming little nipples (haha yeah, really!) Her face is fully formed now -- she just needs a little extra fat to fill it out. She's listening to your voice and your heartbeat -- and even to loud sounds like cars honking and dogs barking.

---Total Weight Gain:  2 pounds.

---Maternity Clothes: No new outfits yet, hopefully soon. Loving Adam's shirts more than anything because some of mine (more than just one or two) are a little small!!

---Gender: GIRL!
---Movement: YES!! She loves kicking Daddy's hand when he puts it on my belly. She has gotten the hiccups ever so often & its a pretty funny feeling! :)
---What I Miss: Sleeping on my tummy & being able to sleep all night long without emptying my bladder. 
---Sleep: usually pretty good until my bladder wakes me up at 7am 
---Cravings: Salty things & sugary things 
---Aversions: same as always but tums seem to make me feel less sick!
---Symptoms: Frequent trips to the potty still, some back pain & horrible pelvic pain after sittting, sleeping or laying down. 
----Best Moment: She put her arm up close to my ribs & pushed out so i could see her arm pushing out of my tummy. It was super crazy to see & feel it. Once Daddy got around to see it though she got shy & pulled her arm down to hide it! & Adam's reaction to her kicking his hand & him seeing my stomach move like crazy! 

23 weeks & 5 days pregnant!

Diaper Bag

So finding a diaper bag is harder than you think!  After all, you need a bag that is cute enough to carry everywhere you go but one that is functional enough to actually use.  I looked at Target, Walmart, K-mart, JCPenney, and other stores in the mall but couldn't find one that I thought was cute.  After all, it's pretty much gonna be your purse as well so it better be cute!! 
Here is my criteria for a diaper bag:
- Stylish (so I'll want to carry it around everywhere)
- Doesn't cost an arm and a leg (like most adorable Petunia Pickle Bottom bags do)
- Lots of organizational pockets and space
- Includes a changing pad
- Comfortable to wear/carry everywhere

Unfortunately I don't really have the money to get the Petunia Pickle Bottom bag I wanted. I did a lot of research a found that I really like JJ Cole's diaper bags. This is the diaper bag I want to get.  I love that it has a padded strap, lots of organizational pockets, and a matching changing pad.  This bag is $60, much better than the $130-$760 for Petunia Pickle Bottom bags!!

22 weeks

--How Far Along: 22 weeks &2 days

---Size of Baby: Weighs about 1.2 lbs now & measures about 10.5-11.8 inches from head to toe. This week she's got more developed eyes and lips, she's looking even more like a newborn. She's sleeping in cycles-- about 12 to 14 hours per day.

---Total Weight Gain: Still at -1 pounds.

---Maternity Clothes: No new outfits yet, hopefully soon.

---Gender: GIRL!
---Movement: YES!! Whenever i sit for long periods of time she goes absolutely crazy!!

---What I Miss: Pizza (this will probably be my answer every time!) & sleeping on my stomach all night long.

---Sleep: usually pretty good

---Cravings: Salty things (chips, nuts, etc) & cereal
---Aversions: same as always 
---Symptoms: Frequent trips to the potty still, some back pain & horrible pelvic pain. 
----Best Moment: Same as last time... feeling her start to really kick. But the very best moment was when Adam felt her kick about 5-6 times in less than a minute!! &watching my stomach twitch when she kicks. I can usually talk to her & get her to kick when i want, its kinda funny!

22 weeks & 2 days pregnant!

21 Weeks

--How Far Along: 21weeks 

---Size of Baby: Weighs about 1pound now & measures about 10 1/2  inches from head to toe. This week she gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch. As her digestive system preps for the outside world, she's manufacturing meconium -- the tarry black substance you'll find in her first dirty diaper (ew)! Since it's a girl, she's already got a lifetime's supply of eggs in her womb -- about six million of them!

---Total Weight Gain: -1 pounds. I am just barely getting to the point where i want to eat food & its not always the healthiest choice of food!
---Maternity Clothes: No new outfits yet, hopefully soon.

---Gender:  It's a GIRL!
---Movement: YES!! She is such a wiggle worm! She woke me up the other morning because she was kicking so much & so hard (granted she isn't that big & i know bigger/stronger kicks are coming in the future) Adam felt her kick even! It was a happy moment!

---What I Miss: Pizza

---Sleep: usually pretty good, until i have to get up to pee at 7:30 every morning

---Cravings: Salty things (chips, nuts, etc) & cereal
---Aversions: same as always 
---Symptoms: Frequent trips to the potty still, some back pain & horrible pelvic pain. 
----Best Moment: Feeling her start to really kick. But the very best moment was when Adam felt her kick about 5-6 times in less than a minute!!

20 Weeks

Baby GIRL STEPHAN

---How Far Along: 20 weeks, 2 days
---Size of Baby: Weighs about 10+ oz & measures about 7  inches from head to toe. This week my baby has working taste buds & is gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid each day! Movement is usually felt around this week & further into the pregnancy.

---Total Weight Gain: -3 pounds. I am just barely getting to the point where i want to eat food!
---Maternity Clothes: I made my 2nd pair of maternity jeans, shorts to be exact a couple days ago. Still the best decision ever! I am so comfy & I don't even have to leave a button un-done to achieve that!! Love my maternity shirts but love Adams shirts more!!

---Gender:  It's a GIRL! We have known now since 16 weeks but I had my regular 20 week ultrasound appointment today & she is as cute as ever!! 
---Movement: YES!! I have felt her a few times here & there but nothing strong enough for Adam to feel yet! 

---What I Miss: Pizza & sleep (still)

---Sleep: It changes every night but for the most part I get a pretty decent nights sleep. My bladder does wake me up at 7 every morning which i am not too fond of!!

---Cravings: Salty things (chips, nuts, etc) & potato salad

---Aversions: Anything with melted cheese (grilled cheese, quesadillas,  pizza, Adam's favorite, etc), Garlic & Onion smells), Ketchup (smell & taste) Although I did eat 2 slices of pizza this past week & directly after I ate a few tums & it didn't seem to hurt as bad! (it was so delicious!!)
---Symptoms: Frequent trips to the potty still, back pain & pelvic pain (just the usual since the fall)
---Best Moment: Hearing the baby's heart beat for the first time at 12 weeks. Finding out its a GIRL! Her  first ever ultrasound at 16 weeks. Seeing her again at my 20 week ultrasound & hearing she is growing perfect & everything is normal! We love her so much already & can't wait for 19 weeks to meet her!!! :)

We can't wait to meet our sweet little princess

13 Weeks

I decided I am going to try this pregnancy update thing a few of my friends are doing, hopefully I can do it the whole time!!

How Far Along: 13 weeks, 5 days

Size of Baby: Weighs about .81 oz & measures about 2.9 inches from head to toe. This week my baby is forming teeth & vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to the baby's tummy. (much more convenient)

Total Weight Gain: -5 pounds. I have been pretty sick since I found out I was pregnant shortly after Thanksgiving (which i totally pigged out at) but I haven't gained anything except a rounder belly!

Maternity Clothes: I made my first pair of maternity jeans about 2 weeks ago. I have decided that was the best make ever! I am so comfy & I don't even have to leave a button un-done to achieve that!! I have bought (thanks to Adam & my mom) 5-6 shirts most are a little big on me but good thing I'm growing so they'll fit perfectly or snug soon enough!!

Gender: We find out in 19 days! (not soon enough) I still have no idea what we're having. I want it to be a girl, but I will be happy if we're told we are having a boy. Adam really wants a boy but I think if we have a girl she would be wrapped around his finger & vise versa in a matter of seconds!

Movement: Nothing yet but hopefully very soon!!

What I Miss: Pizza & not getting a very good nights rest!

Sleep: In general I sleep pretty good at night thanks to Unisom & B12. I normally use the bathrrom right as my eyes are about to close & I can usually make it all the way through the night! The past week though I have had a rough time during the night & I have slept like crap which leaves me exhausted all day but I make it though ok....

Cravings: Pickles (Kosher-Dill Spears) & Cereal

Aversions: Pizza :( & anything with melted cheese (grilled cheese, quesadillas, pizza, Adam's favorite, etc), Ketchup (smell & taste)

Symptoms: Morning sickness in the morning now (verses the night), constant urge to pee like every 5 minutes! haha very achy lower back pain (because of the pregnancy & a fall I took at 6 weeks), the one time heart burn when i ate something spicy, the occasional charley horse that lasts about 1-2 minutes!!

Best Moment: Hearing the baby's heart beat for the first time at 12 weeks. Adam went with me to the doctor's appointment because we were gonna hear the babies heart beat for the first time. I know he was as happy as I was to hear that beautiful thumping noise but I also believe that he was just as nervous as I was that we wouldn't hear it!! For the first time I felt that this pregnancy was REAL, it was such a great feeling!!!

We can't wait to meet this little peanut!!