My sweet little Claire Bear,
I thought I would start your blog/book off by telling you all about my pregnancy with you. It's a really good idea because I have a horrible memory, I have already forgot so much about when Chloe was a baby and that was only 4 years ago. After I had Campbell we were pretty sure that he was going to be our last. When he was almost 2 I decided to go back to school. I thought it would take me a few years to get my nursing degree and by the time Cam was in school I would be all set to go to work. It was a hard decision for me, I knew I would miss the kids and Daddy being gone 3-4 nights every week, but with Daddys support I did it. I think it was pretty close to the first week of going back to school that I started to doubt our decision to be done. It seemed to be on my mind alot, mostly when I was in the car alone on the way to school, the thought of NOT having another baby made me feel so sad and I guess deep down I knew I couldn't be done.
I continued on with my school work and really got into the swing of things, I did really well in class and was really enjoying myself. I signed up for the next semester and continued to do well, it finally seemed like becoming a nurse was a realistic goal for me. However, I still thought about (you) regularly. By the end of my second semester I had told Daddy my feelings and we both agreed that maybe we should try to have just one more baby and see what happened. Right before school was out (April) I went to the Dr and told him we wanted to have another baby. I got off my birth control and told myself I would give it until the begining of the fall semester (August), if I wasn't pregnant by then I would just continue on with my schooling and be officially done with having kids!
I finished up the semester and was so relieved to have a break in the summer. May quickly came and it was mine and Daddy's anniversary. Grandpa had taken all the kids to Marysvale for the night so Daddy and I could go on a date. As we were getting ready to leave I started thinking about things and realized that I might be pregnant already! I mentioned it casually to Dad and he kind of said, huh. I don't think he really thought about it again that night, but I did, I couldn't stop thinking about it. We went on a really fun date to a place where you paint your own pottery, and then to eat at a delicious steak house. On the way home I brought it up again and suggested we go by a pregnancy test, and we did. I took it and well you can probably guess what the result was! POSITIVE!! It was a pretty faint positive and Dad wasn't sold that it was positive at all. I went back and looked at it again, I knew I was right, it was positive! I could hardly believe that I c=got pregnant that quickly and I felt like that was a confirmation that we had made the right decision.
We headed up to Marysvale the next day, the whole family was there for Grandma and Grandpa's birthday party but it was too soon to tell everyone. I think Daddy may have told Grandma but I'm not sure. We told my family the next weekend at Morgan's birthdayparty, I wrapped up a card for him that said for his gift I was giving him a new cousin. It was a pretty fun way to tell everyone. Billy told the rest of his family and the rest was history! Aunt Kylie and Aunt Emilee were already pregnant and soon after we found out that Aunt Melissa was pregnant and after that, Aunt Debbie!!
It was a hard pregnancy for me physically. I did start school again in the fall and I was also in Young Womens. There was a lot going on. Luckily I had an easy class but by the time school was out I didn't know if I could make it any longer. You weren't due until January 22 but for some reason I thought for sure you were going to come over the Christmas break. Well that came and went. I went into the hospital with false labor twice, total dissappointment both times! My doctor agreed to induce my 1 week early, so that is what I was planning on. Saturday the 15th you were going to be born. I had a Dr appointment on Wednesday January 12th at 1040 a.m. I woke up that morning with some good contractions and bleeding. What the heck? I thought for sure you weren't coming on your own. We took the kids to Aunt Jonis and went into labor and delivery for a third time. I forgot to mention that I had been dilated to a 3 for about 3 weeks. This time I was a 4, good news, not great, but good. We got to the hospital at about 9 in the morning and they came in about 9:45 with the good news that they were admitting me! Hooray, you were finally coming, I couldn't believe it. It felt like I had been waiting for you forever, I would day dream about you and sometimes (lots of times) it felt like you were never really going to be in my arms. Finally, I knew you would be.
They started me on pitocin right away and said Dr. Ott would come over at 10:40 (since that was my scheduled appointment time anyway!) to break my water. As soon as they started the pitocin the contractions got pretty serious. I am pretty sure my water broke on its own but Dr Ott showed up anyway to make sure. By then I was dialated to a 6 and more seriously considering an epidural. The nurse kept telling me you weren't low enough but I kept telling her that it was time. I decided to go ahead with the epidural, I think the nurse ended up calling both doctors at the same time. I got the epidural and it only worked on the right side, I could still feel every contraction on the left side, not fun. Dr. Ivy finally came back and gave me a little more medicine but by that time Dr. Ott was there and we were in the heat of things. I think it finally kicked in just in time for the delivery, thank goodness. You were born at 12:36 pm on January 12th 2011. You were 8 lbs 15 oz. and 21 inches long and you had a ton of hair!! You were born very quick and easy. Me and Daddy were of course there, Gramma Loni and Aunt Misty were also there. I loved you right away. You were absolutely beautiful. I remember everyone talking about how big you were and ALL that hair. I got to hold you right away, and I got to hold you for a long time before they came in and cleaned you up and moved us upstairs. It was pure Heaven.
Right after you were born Aunt Kylie showed up. Actually I think she was there before you born, waiting outside the door. Shortly after her Auntie Karen showed up. Neither of them realized that you had already been born, they both were just dropping by to visit while I was in labor and they got a nice little baby suprise when they showed up! Joni was still home with all your brothers and sisters and had to wait for someone to come relieve her. She showed up right before we were about to head upstairs and stayed for awhile while Karen watched ALL the kids; Carson, Jackson, Sophia, Cooper, Carter, Chloe, and Campbell!! That is ALOT of kids!
We only stayed one night, the rest of the kids weren't allowed in the hospital to see you and we were anxious to get home so they could see you. We had the best nurses, aids, and Doctors taking care of us. It was a wonderful experience. I love you so so so much and I am so glad you are here with us. You are a sweet special little spirit and I KNOW you will have a wonderful life!
Love Forever,
Mommy