And Along Came Henry

Thursday July 22, 2010 - Henry's Birth day
Ryan's notes, my comments in italics.

7:10am Got in the hospital. (decided the day before to be induced.)
7:45 Antibiotics started off and on (for Group B Strep) - watched because Honey was having a hard time taking a deep breath. We think it was her position because she was able to stand up and it got better. She took 2 Tums because of some heart burn.
We watched the last of the TDF (Tour de France). Contador and Schleck battled it up the Tourmalet like champs. AC was holding AS’s back wheel and AS couldn’t shake him. Honey is so good to me.(only a man...)
9:50 TdF stage over. Ryan takes a few minutes to discuss the finish with some friends at work; The nurse starts Pitocin and Honey gets back in bed. She’s sleepy now and closes her eyes. Good luck sleeping though. Anxiety builds.
Ryan – I am FREEZING! The A/C has been blowing full bore this whole time. Where’s the thermostat?!
10:11 Honey’s first contraction since being on Pitocin. She was having regular ones before that. What the?!
10:25 Pitocin is upped
11:40 4-5 centimeters dialated, 70% effaced, -2 station, bulging waters? The nurses noticed that the baby’s heart rate as well as Honey’s blood pressure were pretty low. They changed her position and things seem to be better now.
11:55 Another round of Penicillin was started and Pitocin upped again.
Despite being at 4-5 cm dialated, Honey has been fairly comfortable. She says her pain is about a 2.
12:50 Replaced the IV and upped the Pitocin - she started at a 2 and now is up to 10 (ml/hr), Honey up to go to the bathroom and feels a lot better standing up and swaying during the contractions. I wish we had figured this out about 6 kids ago.
12:55 Dr. Logan broke Honey’s water and she’s back in bed. Right after they brought the birthing ball in. She has to be in bed for about 15 min before she can get back up. Dr. Logan says she’s still about a 4, I’m sure that’s tough for Honey to hear. Some of those contractions had been pretty hard ones. She’s doing awesome, though, and is willing herself to relax if that’s possible. She’s really controlled the pain well
1:10 Pitocin turned DOWN! That was a relief to Honey, the contractions were one on top of the other, but Honey was doing great. She gets to get up now too! That’s a relief too.
1:20 Orange popsicles and apple juice. Just trying to keep the energy up. I’m getting anxious and fidgety. Honey’s about to kick me out because I want to help but there’s nothing I can do right now. Back labor apparently SUCKS!
There’s quite a storm kicking up out here. I can see it out west rolling in and some dark puffy clouds hang like clumps of cottonwood cotton above us.
Although the Poticin in back down to 8 ml/hr, the contractions are still on top of each other.

(Around 2pm I couldn't have Ryan leave my side. After I was checked and at 6cm the nurse suggested we lower the end of the bed, have me kneel in the knee to chest position to dilate the rest of the way. The next 45 minutes went from "I remember this pain" to "holy cow how I am going to do this" pain to "I don't want to do this anymore pain" to (back up on the bed to be checked) to "get him out - he wants to come out!")

Honey did it! She did the whole thing without an epidural AND she was on Pitocin. The contractions steadily came on in waves and started to get stronger despite turning the Pitocin down twice. She was able to control the pain through breathing and positioning until she was about an 8. Then all of the sudden, she was ready to push. Between being an 8 and giving birth Honey was screaming and cursing and speaking in tongues. Actually, she was just screaming I’m surprised with how quickly he came actually. (My Doctor was in there in seconds, I was hyperventilating and didn't realize I was actually screaming until I heard it and had a nurse grab my face and tell me to breath. )But, Henry Dale Hunt made it here at 2:43 pm on 7/22/2010 weighing 7 lbs and 15 oz (he peed on me shortly after) and measuring 21 in long. (He had the cord wrapped around his neck twice.) Honey did awesome and seems to be recovering really well, and quickly too - she’s bugging me to order some lunch/dinner.

Sweet baby boy.

Henry and Dad (looking a little tired Ry :)

Mom and Baby. Wait, where's baby?

Introducing . . . .

Henry Dale Hunt
July 22, 2010
2:43pm
7lb 15 oz
21 in long

Swim Team 2010

We had so much fun this summer doing swim team. Kaycee, Clay and Rylee did so well, it was really impressive to watch and see their improvements week by week. They practiced hard every morning, Monday thru Friday and made their team proud at every meet five Saturdays. Although the season ended officially with their last meet on July 10, our kids had the opportunity to participate in Prelims. (That was complete insanity. A huge meet of 7 teams from 7:30am -4:30pm, 13 races total for our kids. Ryan wasn't able to be there, but thank goodness Gma and Gpa took the Olivia and Lucy - I'm not sure how they would have survived outside all day in 90+ degree weather. I'm surprised I made it through the day.) The kids swam their hearts out and cut time off most of their races. It was really neat. Only the top 16 swimmers in each event qualify for the Championships which was the following Saturday. (Some events had more than 120 kids racing). Surprisingly, Kaycee's little (25 meter freestyle) relay team qualified as the alternate for Championships. Ryan took her this past Saturday morning to Championships, but unfortunately all the other teams showed up so she didn't get a chance to swim. But, it was a great season and we look forward to doing it again next year.

Kaycee
Her Stats:
(longest to shortest time over the season)

25 Freestyle: 1:03:38 - 38:19
25 Freestyle Relay: 3:13:32 - 2:55:29 - These girls broke a Blue Fin Team record!
25 Backstroke - she didn't actually compete in this event until prelims. Boy was I shocked that she would do so well! Technique and straight as an arrow: 39:53 - 49th out of 91 kids.
Aren't those improvements impressive? She came home with the trophy of "Most Improved Swimmer" (for 6 & under girls) last night at the banquet. Way to go, Miss Kaycee!

Clay
His Stats:

25 Freestyle: 41:9 - 34:33
25 Breaststroke (his favorite stroke): 44:55 - 36:25
25 Backstroke: 44:48 - 26:96
100 Medley Relay (different strokes per kid per 25 meters): depending on how picky the turn/stroke judges were, kids were disqualified if their technique wasn't right or they did the wrong stroke. Clay did this relay at 2 meets and at prelims, but they were DQ'd every time so we didn't get a time.
100 Freestyle Relay: 2:55:41 - 1:56:18
100IM: at the last swim meet, Clay told the coaches that he wanted to try a 100 Meter Individual Medley. We were surprised. He did great, swam his heart out. Unfortunately we don't have a time as he was DQ'd (I think it was his butterfly - not his favorite.)
He did awesome! He has many ribbons (for the top 6 at each meet for each event) scattered in his room.

Rylee
Her Stats:

25 Freestyle: 30:90 - 22:21 - she has the most amazing technique, so smooth! I wish I could swim like that.
50 Freestyle: (she hated me for having her do 50 meters, especially when she didn't want to finish it at the first meet - but she improved A LOT.) 1:43:09 - 1:03:68
25 Breaststroke: 44:55 - 36:25
25 Backstroke: 38:85 - 24:97
100 Medley Relay: 2:06:44 (her only time - competed at prelims)
100 Freestyle: 1:52:62 - 1:32:15
Rylee did incredibly well and I could watch her swim all day. She also has a plethora of ribbons.

A great season for the Blue Fins. We won 2 of the 5 meets and came close in the others.
Not too shabby for not having won any in the past 3 years!
Boo-yah!

39 Weeks

I'm hoping this is the last post of my pregnant belly, but now that I've said that out loud... I've tried hard to be patient, but everyday has been a struggle.

39 weeks

So sweet baby in there, please come soon. Like now. At our Dr. appt this morning there wasn't anything too promising that you are close to meeting us - although I did go from 1 cm to 2, but only 50% effaced and at a -2 station, but today is the day that I guessed you'd come. But, I'll be okay if you want to wait until tomorrow - for your Dad and Gpa's guess.

We're anxious to meet you.

The Greatest Ideas

I would love to take credit for these ideas, however they are not mine, but are simply the greatest!

1. A Babysitting Co-op
If you've got young kids at home and don't want to pay for a babysitter every time you want to go out - YOU NEED THIS. We have 3 families that we rotate with. We all have 5 children all the same age (key!) and they all get along. We don't watch babies younger than one, but we swap every Friday night from 6:30-9 with the first Friday night of the month as game night - parents play games while kids play together. LOVE IT. We'll be going on our third year in October. What a life saver to get a date in every week. (note: we actually take another family with 2 kids when it's our turn to babysit, and then usually swap our kids to them on the following Saturday night. So we actually get a date EVERY week.)

2. Summer Camps
We have 7 families in this one. Camps for school aged kids. The kids meet twice a week - Tues & Thurs (for 1.5 hours) and rotate activities. Our camps include: drama, cooking (kids LOVE it), parks and rec (meet and play, ride bikes and scooters at a park), science, etc. or whatever a mom wants to do with the kids. We've had a pirate party with treasure maps and booty, and soon will have boat racing. A great way to get kids together and have fun. We, the moms, each do three sessions and the kids really enjoy it. A great way to spend some of those summer days and for FREE.

3. Swim Team
If you have children old enough and a community or neighborhood swim team, this is fantastic. Our season just ended (a post coming soon) and I cannot believe how much fun we had. Not only getting to meet up with friends every morning (one of my favorites), but also how much the kids have learned and improved in just 6 weeks. It may seem pricey at first, but considering how much swimming they did, you can't find a better deal. I loved it. The kids loved it. I'm sad to see it end.

4. A Baby Shower
You know how you usually only have a baby shower when it's the first baby of either gender? Well, some gals know that it's just fun to get together and celebrate about anything - my kind of people! Well, let's take this a step further.

Two fabulous friends of mine in my ward threw me a shower. Not just any shower, but one I will forever be grateful for - getting together making freezer meals! How great is that? Guests are invited to contribute, come and participate (of course with amazing refreshments, too). I was so excited for this, I found a freezer for $50 on Craigslist that is now filled with these goodies and meals. So Smart. (I've participated in a shower like this for two other friends of mine, one expecting their 4th son and another their 5th child. It is life saving. And these are some amazing meals: chicken and green chile enchiladas, chicken parmesan, cheesy tortellini, etc. Good to use before baby comes too when you just don't want to deal with dinner.) My one friend is a nutritionist, she talks with the expectant mother and finds out what your family eats, finds the meals and has everything ready to assemble for the shower (can you imagine all that work? Bless her heart.) freezer OR pantry meals. AMAZING. I can't think of anything more helpful for when a new baby is coming. We've talked about just getting together and like a card swap, putting freezer meals together and swapping. Doesn't that sound fabulous?

I'd love to hear your great ideas. Do tell.

37 Weeks

As you can tell by this lovely picture - I'm ready. Enough with the puffies, achy pelvis, and crazy sciatic that almost drops me, and almost a new record on the scale. I know I technically have about 3weeks left, but hello. I'm.done.

Laundry? Check.
Baby clothes washed? Check.
Grocery shopping? Check.
School supplies? Check.
House tidied? Who are we kidding, that can be a disaster in minutes!
Car seat? Check.
Baby swing (re)purchased? Check
In-laws in town to harrass in the middle of the night? Uh, no.
Mom ready to come? Uh, yes -but I don't want to pull her away from my sister and family visiting them soon, nor have her miss my Dad's 60th Birthday (on the 13th).
Ready for the labor pains and have the baby on the outside? uh...

Okay, so I may not be done quite yet... but one of these days!