Baby Ruth

Ruth Wilcoxson

6/24/2017 12:35 A.M. 

6lbs 6oz

19.5 inches long

37 weeks 6 days

                 Friday was a busy day. I took the kids to the gym, swimming lessons and had a newborn photo session. Around 8 pm I helped a friend decorate for a baby shower and didn't get home until around 10 pm. I was so exhausted, I hardly helped decorate because I was just so tired from the day. I really hadn't had any contractions that day and everything seemed pretty normal. I was slightly bummed because my Mom had convinced me if I took castor oil it would  send me into labor that night so I had taken 4 teaspoons around 3pm on Friday. I later found out I was supposed to take 4 Tablespoons which was probably why I didn't have any side effects from the castor oil. In fact it felt as if I never even took it. 

               Anyway, I went to bed only to never actually get to sleep because around 11:15 I felt a few light contractions. We had decided, based on Molly's birth, that as soon as the first contractions came we would book it to the hospital. I was really hoping we would get there fast enough that I could get an epidural. I woke Nathan up around 11:30 and told him we should probably go to the hospital but that there was no rush because my contractions were really mild. I then texted my Mom and asked her to head over and she did.  Nathan loaded the car and we left for the hospital just before midnight. The hospital is about 20-25 minutes away. About half way to the hospital I felt my water break and things turned intense. All of the sudden my contractions went from a 2 to a 10. We realized that we probably needed to call the hospital and tell them we were on our way and I was in labor. I was trying to google the number and ended up calling St. Francis on accident and then Nathan called some random St. Johns home health and luckily they knew the number to labor and delivery. We finally got a hold of labor and delivery and told them we were on our way and that it would be a fast labor (they didn't take us seriously). We showed up at the hospital a few minutes later and I was dying of pain. Luckily there was a nurse at the entrance waiting to wheel me to labor and delivery. She wheeled me to the triage room and asked me to change into a gown so she could check me in and asses the situation. I tried to explain I needed a delivery room because I was going to have this baby any minute and I was dying but it felt like no one was listening to me. I changed into the gown and then she checked me only to realized I was completely dilated and ready to push. I was laying on my back and had the worst back labor pains. I wanted so desperately to get this little lady out right then but there was no Dr. and they needed to move me to the labor and delivery room. So they moved me, and once again I felt like I was going die. I needed to get off my back but I couldn't move. We got into labor and delivery and everyone was frantically running around. I was screaming someone help me, I need to get this baby out. I felt like no one was listening when I heard a nurse ask, "Has someone called the Dr.?" I couldn't believe it, no one had even called the Dr.??? What??? So they finally got the Dr. in the room and I was ready Ruth out, actually I had been ready for awhile and all the chaos and pain had taken it's toll on me. I was seriously losing it and getting pretty angry. I pushed twice and her head came out only for the Dr. yell stop pushing and someone get the clamps. It was difficult to stop pushing a baby who was half way out while still having contractions. The cord was wrapped around her neck and apparently it was so tight that it needed to be cut before she could come out any more. I am sure it only took about 30 seconds to cut the cord off but it felt like an hour and it was awful. After the cord was cut there was one more push and she was out. The entire experience was chaotic and crazy. Out of all 4 children I felt the least in control during this birth. There were a few small complications after the birth but at the end of the day both baby Ruth and I were safe and healthy which is a huge blessing and miracle. We are so happy to have this little lady in our home. She is already so loved by her family.

update...

We are long overdue for an update...

Caleb started school back in September. He goes every day, 9:00-2:30. It feels like a long time for preschool so sometimes I keep him home and we go to the library, zoo, children's museum ect.

Ethan goes to school every Thursday from 9:00-2:30. He loves it but has a hard time getting there. The poor kid is such a homebody and prefers to stay with his Mom. It's one of the biggest reason I wanted him to go. He isn't social like Caleb and sometimes has a hard time relating and playing with his peers. I want him to be able to socialize with other kids and this cute little preschool is basically a day of learning all through play.

Molly is home with me all day every day. I love it. A few days a week we go to the local Y (where I workout) and she calls the child watch there her gym. She loves to pretend she is going to school when we go to the gym. 

Nathan is also back in school. He is taking a VERY time consuming class this semester but we are making it work. 

I have been really busy this month with photo shoots. This little business of mine has really taken off. I still have so much to learn but it is really been fun to do this. It also has forced Nathan to spend some quality time with the kids when I am gone. He can't retreat to the office fore homework when I am gone so he usually takes the kids to the movies, bike riding or a park. They have really loved this time with Dad and having Nathan's attention.

Sometimes life feels a little mundane or even boring but then the kids do something crazy like give each other hair cuts, super glue papers to a wall or they achieve new goals like riding without training wheels, writing their names or even better figure out how to get themselves breakfast and I realize what an adventure we are having and how sad I will be when my backdoor isn't full of dirty handprints and my office isn't over flowing with cut up paper, glue and pictures because although crazy and at times frustrating these kids are really do bring us our greatest joy and our happiest moments.

our house

We have been in our house for over a year now! The time has flown by. When we lived in Texas every year I posted pictures of our house, it was fun to see how things changed year after year. I kept waiting and waiting to take pictures until projects were finished and things were clean but yesterday I realized that wasn't possible. So I snapped a few of the downstairs and hopefully in the next few days I will add the rest of the house. 

We love this house. We love the colors, all the light, the layout and the yard. We are not huge fans of the neighborhood though and that always leaves the "maybe we should move" question in the back of our mind.

Destin

Almost a year ago I started planning a trip to Destin Florida. My Dad had mentioned he wanted to put together a family reunion. Trying to find a time and location that would fit everyone was a little difficult but we made it work. Destin was a days drive for Rachel and I so it seemed like a perfect location since we have children. And who doesn't love the BEACH??? 

We arrived Monday afternoon and stayed until Sunday morning. Nathan didn't make the drive out with us because he was concerned about missing to much school. He flew in on Wednesday morning. Every day we played on the beach and in the pool. The water was amazingly clear and the kids had no problem jumping right in to search for fish and play around. I was surprised at how much they loved floating around in the Ocean.  In the evenings we searched for and caught crabs, Molly was a little scared but the boys loved it. On Thursday we rented a large pontoon boat with slides. I think this was the highlight of the week for most people. On the boat ride we stopped and snorkeled, saw dolphins, swam, and slid down the awesome slides. 

Sunday morning we packed up and headed out. It was sad to leave but after almost 2 1/2 weeks of traveling to Texas and Florida I am ready to be home for a little bit. Overall this trip was a huge success. It has been almost 9 years since we have all been together and I think Destin was the perfect choice to make that happen again.

A couple of weekends ago I took a few pictures of the kids. We need to have new family pictures taken but I haven't found a photographer I love as much as Ruth who isn't crazy expensive. So for the meantime a few pictures of the kids by me here and there will have to do. 

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Caleb turned 5 today! Saturday we had a pretty great birthday party for him. I decided the kids would get big parties at 5, 8, 12 and 16. This way the kids would get some fun big parties but I wouldn't be scrambling to plan and pay for them every year with every kid. Overall this party was a success. The kids loved the water slide, sno cones, food and atmosphere. 

Camp bandage

Last weekend we attended camp bandage. It was a local event where all different types of people from the community came and set up booths to celebrate safety. The kids had a great time.